Exact date thousands of households can claim £400 payment for energy bills after missing out on rebate
THOUSANDS of households will soon be able to claim a £400 payment to help with their energy bills.
Over 30 million households were eligible for an automatic £400 discount, but it was unclear how certain households would receive it.
And almost 585,000 households were discovered to be ineligible for the automatic discount when the scheme was first launched.
But the government confirmed last November that these households would still be able to get £400 off their bills.
To secure the energy bill discount some of these households will need to fill in an application form to get access to the discount.
This includes those that heat their homes through a district heating network or live in park homes.
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Government estimates suggest that there are 17,000 households on heating networks and 85,000 that live in park homes.
Those living in England, Scotland and Wales will be able to apply for the support before the end of February.
The Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy told The Sun that it expects applications for the scheme to open by Monday, February 27.
Applications could open before this date and they'll include the full details of the scheme.
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Once your application has been processed, your details will be shared with your local council, which will send the payment to you directly.
Those that pay for their energy directly via direct debit, on receipt of bills or through a prepayment metere have already been receiving instalments worth £67 and £66 as part of the wider £400 energy bill rebate scheme.
However, the way you're paid the £400 discount will vary depending on who your energy supplier is, as well as the way in which you're billed.
Each energy supplier also has the freedom to decide how it will apply the discount on to your energy meter.
The discount will be automatic and made up of six instalments, starting from October.
Check with your energy supplier to see how you'll be paid.
And renters who pay their bills included have also been given new protections to ensure that they receive the £400 energy bills discount.
A "pass-through requirement" for energy price support is there to direct landlords to pass on some or all of the support they get from the energy bill support scheme.
They should do this as soon as they can. You should not need to do anything to get this support.
Your landlord must tell you in writing within 30 days of getting the support:
- How much you will get and why
- What you can do if you disagree
If you do not agree with the support they have passed to you, write to your landlord.
If you’re still not happy, you can make a claim for money against them at a county court.
What other cost of living support is available?
As part of the Autumn Statement, it was revealed millions on benefits and Universal Credit will receive an extra one-off £900.
Eight million households currently get cost-of-living payments worth up to £650, but eligibility criteria could change under any new rules.
Pensioners have also started getting a £300 one-off payment.
The current pensioner cost of living payment is being handed out to millions on a low income.
You qualify under the current rules if you normally get the winter fuel payment, but this could change under the new rules.
The £300 cost of living payment is paid on top of the other winter support.
You'll need to be:
- born on or before 25 September 1956
- have lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of 19 to 25 September 2022 in what is known as the "qualifying week"
Struggling families are eligible for the Warm House Discount to help them tackle the cost of living.
The scheme is where eligible households can get £150 off their electricity bill each winter - but you'll have to wait until the colder months to get the money off.
Households in England and Wales don't need to apply to get the cash and they'll automatically qualify if they are receiving certain benefits.
You can read more about who's eligible here.
There are also plenty of energy grants and schemes open to help you out if you're struggling:
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- British Gas Energy Trust Individuals and Family Fund
- British Gas Energy Trust
- EDF Customer Support Fund
- E.ON and E.ON Next Grants
- Octopus Energy Assist Fund
- OVO Energy
- Scottish Power Hardship Fund
There's also a one-off fuel voucher from your energy supplier if you're on a prepayment meter.