Octopus Energy gives customers who miss out on Winter Fuel Payments extra £200 in support

Octopus Energy has expanded its support scheme to include those over the State Pension age who do not receive Pension Credit. This follows the UK Government's decision to scrap annual Winter Fuel Payments for over 10 million older people across Great Britain.

Despite nationwide calls from the SNP, charities and campaigners for a reversal of the policy change announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves on July 29, the Labour Government is standing firm on the policy shift. The eligibility change means millions of pensioners who received payments between £100 and £300 last year will not be entitled to the money this winter.

However, Octopus has pledged to extend its £30 million assistance fund into this winter, making State Pensioners who do not meet the new criteria for Winter Fuel Payments eligible. Similarly, OVO has launched a £50m support package aimed at helping customers struggling with energy bills as the new, higher price cap takes effect.

Both funds are now open for applications, with funding available throughout the year. Octopus Energy's 'Octo Assist' fund can provide discretionary credits of £50, £100 and £200, and the energy giant is reminding customers that it always charges below the price cap - which has now increased by 10 per cent - saving customers from £150m of energy costs annually.

Octopus Energy Group is at the forefront of consumer support, offering complimentary electric blankets and thermal imaging camera loans to tackle draughts, personalised energy-saving guidance from home visits, along with rewarding customers for reducing consumption during peak times. These various initiatives have involved over 2 million participants over the past two winters, saving them a total of £10.5 million, as highlighted by the Daily Record, reports the Express.

The company's founder, Greg Jackson, emphasized their commitment to affordability: "At times like this, we can't expect the government to do everything - companies need to work hard on affordability too. That's why we've expanded our Octo Assist fund to introduce extra support for the pensioners who need it most."

Jackson also shed light on the considerable issue of unclaimed benefits, remarking: "There's a lot of government and other support for pensioners but many don't realise it - government data shows one in three pensioners eligible for pension credits are not claiming, so we're training our team to help with this too."

OVO, along with Octopus, has launched a substantial £50 million Extra Support Package, designed to ease the burden on customers grappling with the cost-of-living crisis. Mirroring Octopus's Octo Assist fund, the scheme offers year-round access to financial aid, with a special focus on increasing support during the chillier months.

Over the past year, OVO's customer support programme has reached over 200,000 households. The extensive £50 million package offers a variety of help to those in need.

OVO's eligibility criteria go beyond the £150 Warm Home Discount, suggesting that older individuals not receiving Winter Fuel Payments may still be eligible for help. More details about OVO's support can be found here.

Advisors from both Octopus Energy and OVO can also help customers identify unclaimed benefits such as Pension Credit.