THOUSANDS of households will soon be able to claim a £400 payment to help with their energy bills.
It comes after it was revealed that 585,000 households would miss out on the energy bill discount offered to all.
Applications for the energy bill cash will open before the end of next month
Even though 30 million households were eligible for the £400 discount, it was clear that certain households wouldn’t get it.
Those that heat their homes through a district heating network or live in park homes will instead have to apply for the free energy bill cash.
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 HOAR that it expects applications for the scheme to open by Monday, February 27.
Once your application has been processed, your details will be shared with your local council, which will send the payment to you directly.
Meanwhile, renters who pay their bills included have also been given new protections to ensure that they receive the £400 energy bills discount.
A new “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.
Those that have a direct relationship with their energy supplier 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.
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:
- 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.
