Fury as ‘nonsense’ loophole means thousands of people miss out on £400 cost of living payment while others get DOUBLE
A "NONSENSE" loophole has sparked fury online, as thousands of people will miss out on a £400 cost of living payment, while others will get double.
Outraged bill payers have taken to social media to speak out against the £400 energy bill discount, announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak in May.
It was announced that the moneypot is for "every" household and does not need to be paid back - in an effort to help out those choosing between heating and eating, as energy prices soar.
But it has emerged that no everyone is entitled to the cash sum.
Certain renters should be wary of what they can expect, as a number of loopholes mean they might be left out of the bonus.
If your landlord makes the direct payments each month and is named on your bill, the £400 will go straight into their pocket instead.
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Likewise, if you pay an "all-in" fee that includes your rent AND utilities - like water, energy and wifi - you won't be able to get your hands on the cash.
Those who live in a park home and pay a pitch fee to the site owner won't see the money themselves either.
What has boiled tempers even more is the loophole that those with two properties will receive double the discount - even if they're only heating one home at once.
And landlords with a portfolio of multiple houses could be paid the £400 over and over - one for each home they own.
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One Twitter user said: "What nonsense."
Someone else on Facebook said: "Why isn't it means tested. The rich don't need this."
Another said: "Temporary fix - we're all doomed except the rich."
And one added: "Thats 1 month sorted then in winter."
The £400 windfall for UK households came as part of a rescue plan put together by Rishi Sunak to help people through the cost of living crisis.
The Chancellor announced:
- a windfall tax on gas and oil firms to partially fund the support
- £300 one-off payment to low-income pensioners
- £150 extra one-off disability payment
- £400 energy discount for EVERY household
- An extra £500million for the Household Support Fund
But as more details have emerged about the help, loopholes have been spotted that could see some people miss out.
A few bill payers online asked why the extra money couldn't go towards lowering energy bills so that everyone can pay their way again.
One social media user said: "Instead of giving us £400 each to help with the increases, why not just stop the companies putting the increases in place in the first place?"
Another added: "If it’s genuinely because the global situation is putting the prices up, put this spare money towards subsidising the companies to stop them putting the prices up.
"Stop people worrying themselves sick over whether they can afford to survive!"
One particularly long rant picked apart the fine details of the cash grant.
It asked: ";Do rich people who have more than one property get a discount on every one?
"What about poor people, or even less well off people, or students, who share a house or a flat...there will only be one energy bill between them, so they won't get £400 each, they'll get £400 divided by the number of people sharing.
"What about landlords letting out property where the energy bills are in their name...will they get £400 per property?
"This scheme seems badly thought out & likely to benefit the wealthy & penalise the poor."
If you are struggling with bills you may be able to claim other help too.
Energy suppliers are offering cash grants to those hardest hit by bills rises.
For instance British Gas is giving out up to £750 through its hardship fund.
You can apply for a grant to pay off arrears if you've fallen behind from the
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You can get £150 off your energy bills with the Warm Home Discount scheme, which will open for applications later this year.
And when temperatures plummet those in low income households can get a £25 cold weather payment.
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