£135
OFF YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL
Two million people can get at least £135 off their electricity bill this winter. Some will be paid automatically. Others have to claim or they will not get it. The sooner you claim the better.
Core Group
The biggest group – called the ‘core group’ – are more than a million older
people who get pension credit and fulfil other conditions. The ones who qualify
fall into two categories depending on their age on 20 July 2013. For couples it
is the age of the older partner which counts.
Those under 75 who get the guarantee part of pension credit but not the savings credit. That means their income before the pension credit will normally be no more than £115.30 if single or £183.90 if a couple. Some with a disability may get more but the key test is they get guarantee credit and NOT savings credit.
Those aged 75 or more can have a higher income and get the discount. Their income before pension credit will be less than £145.40 a week (single) or £222.05 (couple). Some with disabilities can qualify with a higher income. As long as they get some guarantee credit they will qualify even if they get savings credit as well.
People in the core group should not have to claim. Suppliers will use information from the Department for Work and Pensions to pay them automatically. However, some who qualify may not be identified. They should contact their energy supplier. To qualify pension credit must have been paid on 20 July 2013. Not all suppliers pay the discount – details below.
Broader Group
The broader group who qualify are low income households where there is a
young child or someone with a disability. With some suppliers pensioners not in
the core group can qualify as part of the broader group. People in this broader
group have to make a claim.
Unfortunately the energy suppliers all have different rules for qualifying. So the safest thing is to contact your supplier to see if you qualify.
If your income is low and there are young or disabled children or disabled adults in the household or you are over pension age and do not qualify automatically, you should enquire.
Claims should be in by the end of 2013 – though some suppliers may accept payments later. Payments will be made by the end of March 2014. Each supplier has a limited fund for this group so the sooner you apply the more likely you are to get the money.
People in the broader group should not switch supplier until the discount is made.
Payment
The
discount is normally taken off your electricity bill. Core group customers who
have moved supplier since 20 July 2013 will be sent a cheque by their old
supplier. All payments should be made by the end of March 2014. People on
prepayment meters will have the credit added to their key. Some will be sent a
voucher to take to the Post Office. Other suppliers will update the key
automatically.
Supplier
The
big six electricity suppliers are legally obliged to offer the warm home
discount. They are British Gas (including Sainsbury’s), EDF Energy, E.on, npower,
Scottish Power and SSE (that includes Atlantic Energy, Scottish Hydro, Southern
Electric, SSE and Swalec). SSE also operates the scheme for Ebico, Equipower,
and M&S Energy. First Utility and Utility Warehouse are also in the scheme. If
you get your electricity from another small supplier you will not get the warm
home discount.
British Gas is adding £60 to the Warm Home Discount for dual fuel customers or £20 for electricity only customers. It is paying £40 for gas only customers who were on the Essentials social tariff. Scottish Power is sending an extra £50 to the 140,000 customers who got the warm home discount last winter as a punishment by the regulator Ofgem for mis-selling its services.
More information
www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme/eligibility lists the suppliers
involved with links to their schemes.
The Home Heat Helpline 0800 33 66 99 can give advice about the Warm Home Discount and other schemes to help with heating bills.
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