Millions of households could be in line for a £150 reduction on their energy bills this winter but Britons will need to take urgent action to ensure they claim this discount from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
The Government is reminding potential claimants of the Warm Home Discount that they will have to make sure they are named on their account by Sunday, August 24 or facing losing this support.
According to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, over six million households are now able to benefit from the concession, which is 2.7 million more than last winter.
Among those newly eligible are 900,000 additional families with children will now qualify for the energy bill support after the Government scrapped previous restrictions that kept many people from getting help with their costs.
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Britons in receipt of the following benefit payments from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) could be entitled to benefit support:
- Housing Benefit
- Income Support
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
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However, the Government department is reminding households that potential Warm Home Discount claimants must check their names are listed on their benefit account.
Furthermore, the person claiming DWP support needs to be the one named on the electricity bill and not just living at the address.
This is a particular issue for benefit claimants if they have recently moved home or switch energy suppliers as their details may have not been updated yet.
As well this, people using prepayment meters with a key or card also need to check their account is registered in their name.
MEMBERSHIP:
Getting this issue addressed before the August 24 deadline means energy suppliers can use their records to automatically apply the £150 discount.
Ahead of this date, Labour ministers are urging the British public to take a few minutes out of their day to check now rather than missing out on this support late.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Minister for Energy Consumers Miatta Fahnbulleh is urging people to help spread the message to friends and family who might qualify for the discount.
“We took decisive action earlier this year to expand the Warm Home Discount, giving more working families certainty and peace of mind before winter,” she said.
“I now want to make sure as many eligible households as possible get £150 off their energy bill, putting more money in their pockets as part of our Plan for Change.”
Last winter showed just how effective the automatic system can be – 96% of eligible households received their discount without having to do anything beyond ensuring their details were correct.
