Energy suppliers start making £150 payments to millions of customers to help with heating bills – will you get one?
ENERGY suppliers have started issuing £150 payments to help millions of households with gas and electricity costs this winter.
This support is provided through the government's Warm Home Discount scheme, offering a one-off, tax-free discount on electricity bills for low-income households.
The scheme reopened at the beginning of the month, and customers have taken to social media to share that they've started receiving the £150 discount.
Households in England and Wales don't have to apply to get the cash and receive it automatically.
Some Scottish households do have to apply for the discount.
One EDF customer on Facebook yesterday: "Has anyone got their Warm Home Discount of £150 as we have had ours this afternoon added to our smart meter."
Read more in money
Another customer responded and said: "Mine came through today too.
One Ovo Energy customer also said on Facebook this morning: "Woke up this morning to the Warm Home Discount applied to my meter!"
Another added: "Same! I haven't been entitled the last few years, so I don't know what’s changed!"
The eligibility requirements for the Warm Home Discount are the same as last year.
Between now and December, the government is issuing letters to over three million households eligible for the scheme.
These will tell you:
- You're eligible and you'll get the discount automatically; or
- You might be eligible, and you need to give more information.
- The letter will tell you to call the helpline by February 29, 2024 to confirm your details.
Who's eligible for the discount?
To qualify for the Warm Home Discount, you need to claim either the guaranteed credit element of pension credit or a different qualifying benefit form the list below:
- 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 pension credit
If you weren't claiming any of the above benefits on August 11, 2024, you won't be eligible for the payment.
Where someone claims a qualifying benefit, the government will assess their energy costs based on the type, age and size of 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.
Even if you weren't getting pension credit on August 11, thousands of pensioners who apply for the benefit now can still qualify for the £150 payment.
This is because pension credit rules allow first-time claimants to backdate their benefit entitlement by three months.
So you'll need to launch your claim by November 10 and then successfully get it backdated to cover the August 11 Warm Home Discount qualifying date.
But if you fail to apply before this date, you'll miss out.
What is pension credit and how do I apply?
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.
If you haven't received a letter confirming your eligibility for the scheme by early January 2024, but believe you qualify, you should contact the helpline on 0800 030 9322.
How is the Warm Home Discount paid?
If you pay by direct debit or on receipt of your bill the £150 Warm Home Discount will be added to your electricity account as a credit.
Once it has been applied, it will show on your next bill.
If you have a traditional prepayment meter, your energy supplier will send you a letter explaining how you'll get your discount.
You'll usually receive a Post Office voucher in the post and instructions on redeeming it.
It's vital to cash in these vouchers as soon as you receive them.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Data from the Post Office, showed that up to £3million worth of vouchers went unclaimed last year.
If you have a smart prepayment meter, your energy supplier will automatically credit your meter with the discount.
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 vary 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.