Octopus Energy is handing out free £200 payments which are 'discretionary'

State pensioners who have had the Winter Fuel Allowance scrapped are being handed £200 discretionary payments from Octopus. Pensioners who lost out on the £300 sums under new qualifying criteria from the Labour Party government and Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are set to be helped.

Octopus Energy's 'Octo Assist' fund can provide discretionary credits of £50, £100 and £200. The energy firm states: "We will ask you to share some information about your health, any vulnerabilities, income and monthly costs so we can work out the best ways we can help you.

"Applying is quick and straightforward, and you can do it online, over the phone, or by mail." Octopus will check if you’re entitled to any other government support or benefits (which for some customers, add up to £10,000 a year) and can help you apply.

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Octopus Energy Group's founder Greg Jackson said: "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."

He added: "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."

The £50m package includes payment holidays for all prepayment customers, free energy saving products including electric throws, mattress toppers, and home efficiency kits and energy efficiency upgrades.

Financial support including Direct Debit reductions, emergency credit top-ups, and extended repayment plans is also available, as well as new partnerships and increased financial relief for customers alongside help for organisations including Warm Welcome Campaign and StepChange.

OVO's eligibility criteria extends beyond the £150 Warm Home Discount.