'I am a single parent with two children, one of whom has a disability. It is important that the house is kept warm for him but I am struggling to afford to keep the heating on. I was paying by direct debit but the amount went up so much that it has made me overdrawn and I am worried now that my rent won't be paid and we'll lose our home. I now owe money to my energy supplier and can't see how I am going to manage through the winter.'

If you owe your supplier money, you should speak to them as soon as possible. Energy bill debt is classed as a 'priority debt' which means it should be dealt with before other debts such as credit card debt.

Your supplier has to help you and negotiate a deal that works for both of you. You should try to agree a payment plan with them. You'll pay the money you owe back in instalments over a set period of time. When agreeing a payment plan, your supplier must take into account:

• How much you can afford to pay
• How much energy you'll use in the future

If you use a prepayment meter, you'll pay back a bit of the debt each time you top up. Tell your supplier if you can't afford this. If you're struggling to top up your prepayment meter you might be able to get a fuel voucher supplied by the Fuel Bank Foundation. Various organisations can apply for these for you, including Citizens Advice.

You might also be able to get grants from suppliers / charitable organisations, or benefits to help you pay the debt.

We offer Energy Advice Appointments if you don't feel you can deal with this alone. At these appointments we can help you:

• Deal with energy issues
• Get information about smart meters and getting digital with your energy
• Find out about help from suppliers and the government for people struggling to pay their energy bills
• Make sure you get the right benefits and energy grants, including fuel bank vouchers
• Understand your home's energy efficiency and suggest ways to save energy around your home
• Sign up to schemes like the Priority Services Register
• Deal with other barriers to living in a safe and warm home

Our EAP Energy appointments are free, independent and confidential.
You can request an Energy Advice appointment by ringing our Local Enquiry line on 01509 649605

Detailed and helpful information about all aspects of your energy, including how to make your home more energy efficient, can be found on the Citizens Advice website under consumer - energy - https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/

Our Local Enquiry Line is open Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays 9.30am-3.00pm. More details about us can be found on our website https://www.charnwoodcab.org.uk/