British Gas and Octopus Energy customers are being urged to check if they can claim from a pool of £2,200 in total available from energy suppliers British Gas and Octopus Energy this winter.
Both energy firms offer schemes that can help customers who are struggling this winter after losing their Winter Fuel Payment or anyone of any age who is battling to make ends meet after Ofgem raised energy prices again by 10 percent heading into the winter.
Octopus Energy offers payments of between £50 and £200 to state pensioners and others who are finding it tough.
The gas and electricity supplier has promised to set up its own Winter Fuel Allowance for pensioners who will no longer receive the £300 Winter Fuel Payment after the government cut it and changed it to a means-tested benefit based on Pension Credit eligibility instead.
The company said that because ‘fewer UK households are now eligible’ for the government’s help, the firm has decided to ‘step up’ and offer the money itself.
Octopus Energy will send out ‘Winter Fuel Payments’ of between £50, £100 and £200 to state pensioners who are no longer eligible for the government’s official Winter Fuel Payments due to the changes and the Ofgem price cap’s 10 percent increase, upping bills by another £149.
It said: “Fewer UK households are now eligible for the government’s £200-300 Winter Fuel Payment this year. And we know many customers depended on this help.
“That’s why we’re stepping up to help bring this support back to customers who need it most: offering our own £50, £100 and £200 ‘Winter Fuel Payments’ to thousands of Octopus customers who’ll no longer be eligible with the recent changes.”
Meanwhile, British Gas is offering up to £2,000 in cash payments to state pensioners and others who have lost their Winter Fuel Payment and are battling the burden of high energy bills.
The money isn’t just for British Gas customers but is open to anyone who is a customer of any energy firm, although British Gas wants people to try their own supplier first.
British Gas has brought back its British Gas Energy Support Fund, which will give as much as £2,000 to customers in need.
The firm’s Energy Support Fund is open to applications from British Gas customers with credit or pre-payment meter accounts.
To get up to £2,000 from British Gas, you must live in England, Scotland or Wales, and not have received a grant from the Trust in the past 12 months.
You must be seeking a grant in order to clear an outstanding debt on a current or open gas, electricity or dual fuel account in your name, or be a member of the household, and the account must be for your main residence.
You must have a minimum of £50 debt on a pre payment meter or £250 as a credit account customer, and a maximum of £2,000 debt for your gas or electricity, and British Gas says “You must be in or facing fuel poverty.”
There is also the Individual and Families Fund, which is very similar and offers grants of up to £1,700 for energy debts.
The Trust added: “Please note that the British Gas Energy Trust is interested in funding applications where the applicant can show a sustainable position moving forward. We believe that it is rarely in the person’s best interest to seek a debt write-off, without dealing with the underlying problem of a deficit budget, due to this deficit budgets will only be considered in exceptional circumstances, there is some allowance for marginal exceptions.
“Please note where client’s would be eligible for a Bankruptcy or DRO, we expect this to have been explained to the client. Clients who are eligible for a DRO may not be successful in their application, as there is an alternative route to managing their debt.
“The Trust expects that the money advice service who has supported the applicant has ensured that all advice given and action taken by their agents or appointed representatives a) has regard to the best interests of the applicant b) is appropriate to the individual circumstances of the applicant c) is based on a sufficiently full assessment of the financial circumstances of the applicant.”
To apply, go here.
