(Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire)
DWP benefit claimants will get £150 off energy bills this winter - full list of suppliers
by Simon Coyle · Manchester Evening NewsA number of households can look forward to a £150 reduction in their energy bills this winter, as several energy suppliers are set to offer discounts as part of the Warm Home Discount scheme.
The initiative involves energy companies giving a £150 rebate on electricity bills to people who receive certain Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits, reports The Mirror.
Instead of cash being deposited into bank accounts, suppliers will directly credit the discount to their customers' energy accounts, so it's specifically earmarked for bill payments.
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People who have a traditional prepay meter - so not a smart one - will be sent a voucher which they can use to top up the meter in their home. The support is given automatically to people claiming certain benefits including:
- Income related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- Universal Credit
- Housing benefit
- Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits
- Pension Credit Savings Credit (PCSC)
To get the money this year, you will need to be claiming these benefits during the qualifying week - this is usually in August however the official week has not yet been confirmed. It's also important to know that now all energy suppliers are part of the Warm Home Discount scheme. So even if you are claiming the eligible benefits, you may not receive the help.
According to GOV.UK, the following suppliers took part in last year's Warm Home Discount scheme. This means it is likely they will be a part of this year's too - although this has not been confirmed. These include:
- 100Green (formerly Green Energy UK or GEUK)
- Affect Energy
- Atlantic
- Boost
- British Gas
- Bulb Energy
- Co-op Energy
- E
- Ecotricity
- E.ON Next
- EDF
- Good Energy
- London Power
- Octopus Energy
- Outfox the Market
- OVO
- Rebel Energy
- Sainsbury’s Energy
- Scottish Gas
- Scottish Hydro
- ScottishPower
- Shell Energy Retail
- So Energy
- Southern Electric
- SSE Energy Services
- Swalec
- Tomato Energy
- TruEnergy
- Utilita
- Utility Warehouse
If your energy supplier is part of the scheme, they should contact you to let you know whether you are eligible, these letters usually come before January the next year. The scheme opens in October and runs until March each year so your discount can be applied anytime.