Over 3million households to get DWP letters from TODAY with details of £150 energy bill help – are you one of them?
OVER three million struggling households will start receiving letters from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) detailing £150 worth of energy bill help.
The Warm Home Discount is a one-off tax-free discount on your electricity bill.
If you are eligible, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill. The money is not paid to you.
To qualify you usually need to be claiming one of a number of means-tested benefits during the qualifying week, which is usually in August.
The DWP said it will start sending letters to those who qualified for the scheme from today, October 14.
But do not panic if it does not arrive on your doorstep today, as it may take up until mid-December for it to be posted out.
Miatta Fahnbulleh, Minister for Energy Consumers, told The Sun today is important for those “worried about energy costs”.
She explained: “If you don’t receive [a letter] but think you might be eligible then you can visit gov.uk for an eligibility checker.
“Today we are also launching a helpline, open until February, which you can call to find out whether you meet the criteria.”
Meanwhile, the Post Office urges families who receive the discount in voucher form to act urgently.
Those who use pre-payment meters often receive the £150 boost in a voucher which can be redeemed at their local Post Office or PayPoint shop.
However, data from the firm showed that last year up to £3million worth of vouchers went unclaimed at their sites.
If this applies to you, it is important to redeem the voucher soon after receiving it as they do expire, some in as little as 30 days.
However, if the voucher is lost or expired, households can contact their supplier to have it reissued.
News of the cash boost comes as Brits remain worried about their energy bills this winter.
Energy regulator Ofgem has raised its price cap, meaning energy bills are set to rise by around £149 a year.
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.
Elsewhere, cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment mean 10million pensioners will miss out on £300 worth of fuel support.
How to apply for the Warm Home Discount
You will get the discount automatically if you’re eligible and claim one of the following benefits:
- Housing Benefit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- The ‘Savings Credit’ part of Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
You could also qualify if your household income falls below a certain threshold and you get either:
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
Applications for the scheme opened in October, however, you may not get the help until next March.
To get the cash you’ll usually need to be actively claiming one of a the means-tested benefits listed above in the qualifying week – which is usually in August.
However, if you later launch a successful claim for backdated benefits, you may still be able to qualify after this date and once it’s confirmed.
If you qualify for the WHD, you should receive a letter telling you.
The Warm Home Discount Helpline number is 0800 030 9322 to provide assistance and help customers who have received a letter regarding their eligibility.
You can also use the government’s free online eligibility checker to see if you are missing out on the help.
This can be found at https://www.gov.uk/check-if-youre-eligible-for-warm-home-discount.
If you are worried about your energy bills, check out The Sun’s article on the full list of support worth over £5,000 here.