Fuel Poverty Action
The NPC Executive Committee on 23 September agreed that we would circulate informationon how to support the Fuel Poverty Action group who campaign to tackle fuel poverty
As the costs of fossil fuels soar this autumn, everyone is being hit by rising bills. Many are already desperate, and 1.5 million people have also been affected by their energy supplier going bust in the past few days. Meanwhile Universal Credit is to be cut. Over three million people in the UK live in fuel poverty and this will increase by another 500,000 households when the Price Cap is raised on 1st October.
To enable them to continue supporting people like us, they have set up a crowdfunder at:
Every little helps from a small regular sum to a one-off donation.
As always thank you. We need to take care of each other and make sure we stay well through winter.
Jan
Jan Shortt
NPC General Secretary
Warm Home Discount Scheme
Households on a low income and those in receipt of certain benefits may be able to get £140 off their energy bill this winter under the Warm Home Discount scheme. Major suppliers, including British Gas, EDF, E.on and Scottish Power, have reopened their schemes for 2021/22. Please see the details below and if you are not sure about your eligibility for the scheme, contact your energy company.
Overview
You could get £140 off your electricity bill for winter 2021 to 2022 under the Warm Home Discount Scheme. The scheme opens on 18 October 2021.
The money is not paid to you - it’s a one-off discount on your electricity bill, between October and March.
You may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead if your supplier provides you with both gas and electricity. Contact your supplier to find out.
The discount will not affect your Cold Weather Payment or Winter Fuel Payment.
Eligibility There are 2 ways to qualify for the Warm Home Discount Scheme:
you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit - known as the ‘core group’
you’re on a low income and meet your energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme - known as the ‘broader group’
How you apply for the Warm Home Discount Scheme depends on how you qualify for the discount.
Pre-pay or pay-as-you-go meters
You can still qualify for the discount if you use a pre-pay or pay-as-you-go electricity meter.
Your electricity supplier can tell you how you’ll get the discount if you’re eligible, for example a voucher you can use to top up your meter.
Park (mobile) homes
You apply a different way if you live in a park home. Park home applications for winter 2021 to 2022 will open in autumn 2021.
Fill in the Park Homes Warm Home Discount contact form to be told when the scheme reopens. Contact Charis Grants Ltd for more information about the scheme.
Telephone: 0330 555 9424 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm (closed on bank holidays)
You can find further information on
If you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit
You qualify for the discount if on 4 July 2021 all of the following apply:
your energy supplier is part of the scheme
your name (or your partner’s) is on the bill
you or your partner are getting the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit (even if you get Savings Credit as well)
This is known as being in the ‘core group’.
How to apply You’ll receive a letter between October and December 2021 telling you how to get the discount if you qualify.
Your letter will say if you need to call a helpline by 28 February 2022 to confirm your details. Your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill by 31 March 2022.
If you do not get a letter Contact the Warm Home Discount helpline if you do not get the letter by 31 December and you think you’re eligible for the ‘core group’.
Warm Home Discount helpline Telephone: 0800 731 0214
Video relay service for British Sign Language (BSL) users - check you can use this service Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Warm Home Discount
Blue Zone, Ground Floor Phase 1
Peel Park
Brunel Way
Blackpool
FY4 5ES
Do not contact the Warm Home Discount helpline if you’re not eligible for the ‘core group’.
If you’re on a low income
You may be able to apply directly to your electricity supplier for help if you do not get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit but:
your energy supplier is part of the scheme
you’re on a low income
you get certain means-tested benefits
This is known as being in the ‘broader group’. To get the discount you’ll need to stay with your supplier until it’s paid.
How to apply Your electricity supplier decides who can get the discount. The number of discounts suppliers can give is limited. Check with your supplier as early as possible to see if you’re eligible and how to apply.
Check with them even if you were eligible for a discount last year. Your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill by 31 March 2022.
Energy suppliers
The following suppliers were part of the scheme in winter 2020 to 2021:
Affect Energy – see Octopus Energy
Atlantic – see SSE
Avro Energy
Boost
Bristol Energy - only if you’re eligible for the ‘core group’
British Gas
British Gas Evolve (formerly British Gas X)
Bulb Energy
Co-op Energy - see Octopus Energy
E (Gas and Electricity)
E.ON
Ecotricity - only if you’re eligible for the ‘core group’
EDF Energy
Green Energy UK (GEUK) - only if you’re eligible for the ‘core group’
Green Network Energy
Green Star Energy - see Shell Energy
iSupply Energy - see EDF Energy
London Power – see Octopus Energy
Lumo - see OVO
M&S Energy – see Octopus Energy
npower
nPower Select - see E.ON Next
Octopus Energy
OVO
Powershop
Pure Planet
Qwest Energy - see Octopus Energy
Roar Power - see Octopus Energy
Sainsbury’s Energy
Scottish Hydro – see SSE
ScottishPower
Shell Energy
So Energy
Southern Electric – see SSE
Spark
SSE
Swalec – see SSE
Symbio Energy
Tonik Energy - see ScottishPower
Utilita
Utility Point - only if you’re eligible for the core group
Utility Warehouse