Low-income state pensioners are receiving a boost to help pay their energy bills over winter as part of a Government support scheme. The Warm Home Discount knocks £150 off energy bills one time only during winter.
The support is designed to help those most likely to be worried about their energy bills. It will be even more important this year to those who receive it after Winter Fuel Payments were made means-tested.
People who qualify include those on the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit. Non-pensioners households may also be eligible if they have low incomes and high energy costs.
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The £150 discount is added to customers’ accounts as energy credit or provided as a voucher rather than as a cash payment. This is to ensure the funding cuts energy bills for those who need it rather than being spent on something else.
Many people have likely already received their discount as it is applied between October and March. British Gas explained: “It’s there to provide support for those living on low incomes or pensions. If you qualify for the winter 2024/25 payment, you will have your one-off £150 discount applied by the end of March at the latest.
“The discount will be added to your electricity account as a credit. And if you’re on pay as you go, we’ll send you a voucher you can use to top up your meter at a Post Office. If you’re one of our pay as you go smart meter customers, we’ll even send it directly to your meter as a credit and send you an email to let you know it’s on there.
“If we can’t get it directly to your meter as quickly as we’d like, we’ll send you a voucher to top up from a Post Office.” The Warm Home Discount scheme remains in place after Winter Fuel Payments were axed for millions.
All pensioners used to get the payments, worth up to £300, but now only the very poorest will receive them.