TIME TO ACT
Just HOURS left to qualify for £150 winter payment as 2.2million risk missing out… are you eligible?
Scroll down to see if you're missing out on benefits
THE clock is ticking for millions of British households as there are just a few hours left to qualify for a £150 winter payment.
Hundreds of thousands of people in the UK will need to claim benefits by TONIGHT to be able to seek this year's Warm Home Discount.
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The eligibility requirements for the scheme, which credits £150 to a customer's energy account, are the same as last year.
There are two Warm Home Discount schemes - one for England and Wales, and one for Scotland.
Those living in England and Wales do not need to apply for the scheme, but those living in Scotland do.
Between October and December, the government will issue letters to households that qualify for the scheme.
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However, to be eligible for the discount, you need to be claiming one of nine means-tested benefits by tonight.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, which administers the £150 Warm Home Discount, says households must have an active claim for any of the following benefits on Sunday, August 11:
- Guaranteed credit element for pension credit
- Income support
- Income-based jobseeker's allowance
- Income-related employment and support allowance
- Housing benefit
- Universal Credit
- Child tax credit
- Working tax credits
- The "Savings Credit" part of the pension credit
If you weren't claiming any of these benefits on August 11, 2024, you won't be eligible for the payment.
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However, even if you weren't receiving pension credit on the qualifying date of August 11, there's a trick you can follow to ensure that you get the extra cash later.
This is because your eligibility for certain benefits can be backdated.
Could you be eligible for Pension Credit?
For example, successful Pension Credit claims can be backdated by three months.
Claims for Universal Credit can be backdated by one month.
Around 800,000 pensioners are eligible for pension credit but not claiming it.
As well as missing out on a £300 winter fuel payment, they won't get the £150 Warm Home Discount payment.
Are you missing out on benefits?
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity works out what you could get.
Entitledto's determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto's data.
You can use to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you'll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
A further 1.4million households are eligible for Universal Credit but not claiming it.
But if you apply for either of these benefits soon and if your backdated claim means that you'll have been entitled to pension credit or Universal Credit on August 11, you'll still qualify for the Warm Home Discount.
OTHER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
When someone claims a qualifying benefit, the government assesses their energy costs based on the type, age, and size of the property.
This means that you may not be considered eligible for the Warm Home Discount if you live in a more energy-efficient property, for instance, even if you receive a qualifying benefit.
However, this rule doesn't apply to recipients of the guarantee credit portion of pension credit, who will automatically receive this winter support.
What is pension credit?
PENSION credit tops up your weekly income to £218.15 if you are single or to £332.95 if you have a partner.
This is known as "guarantee credit".
If your income is lower than this, you're very likely to be eligible for the benefit.
However, if your income is slightly higher, you might still be eligible for pension credit if you have a disability, you care for someone, you have savings or you have housing costs.
You could get an extra £81.50 a week if you have a disability or claim any of the following:
- Attendance allowance
- The middle or highest rate from the care component of disability living allowance (DLA)
- The daily living component of personal independence payment (PIP)
- Armed forces independence payment
- The daily living component of adult disability payment (ADP) at the standard or enhanced rate.
ou could get the "savings credit" part of pension credit if both of the following apply:
- You reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016
- You saved some money for retirement, for example, a personal or workplace pension
This part of pension credit is worth £17.01 for single people or £19.04 for couples.
Pension credit opens the door to other support, including housing benefits, cost of living payments, council tax reductions, the winter fuel payment and the Warm Home Discount.
You can start your application up to four months before you reach state pension age.
WARM HOME DISCOUNT TIMELINE IN ENGLAND AND WALES
Households in England and Wales will get a letter between October 2024 and early January 2025 telling you:
- You're eligible and you'll get the discount automatically
- You might be eligible, and you need to give more information.
- The letter will tell you to call the helpline by 29 February 2025 to confirm your details.
If you don't get the letter by early January 2025 and you think you're eligible, you need to call the helpline on 0800 030 9322.
If you're eligible, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill by 31 March 2025.
SOME SCOTTISH HOUSEHOLDS NEED TO APPLY
In Scotland there's a "core group" that'll receive an automatic payment and a "broader group" which has to apply for the scheme with their energy provider.
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You'll need to check with your energy supplier directly to see the eligibility requirements and details on how to apply.
The scheme will have more applicants than places, so make sure you apply as soon as possible.
What energy bill help is available?
THERE'S a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you're struggling to get by.
If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.
This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.
If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don't think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Several energy firms have grant schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria varies depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.
British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You don't need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.
Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill, and some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you're struggling.
Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.
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