What monetary help is on the market for households on power prepayment meters?
O
ne in 4 individuals who use prepayment energy meters are lacking out on vouchers they’re entitled to obtain, based on new figures.
More than £780 million in EBSS (Energy Bills Support Scheme) vouchers have been despatched to households however solely £620 million have been claimed. Nearly 20 per cent of households have nonetheless not accessed the support available to them by way of the federal government scheme.
Data revealed that the fewest households making use of the assist are in London, the place greater than a 3rd of vouchers stay unclaimed. In Scotland and the South East of England, about 26 per cent of vouchers haven’t but been used.
PayPoint, which course of the vouchers, revealed that round one in 5 folks didn’t redeem the £66 power assist voucher they have been despatched in November.
If you’re on a prepayment meter, right here’s what you have to learn about accessing all out there assist.
How can I get the Government power payments low cost?
Last winter, households in Great Britain have been promised £400 in funds to assist them with energy bills.
For most households, this quantity was taken from their direct debits, however clients with prepayment meters need to redeem month-to-month £66 vouchers.
How do I declare my prepayment meter assist?
You will both be given vouchers, or an computerized top-up, by which case you must top-up your prepayment as common.
If you get vouchers, you’ll need to make use of them at a top-up level, similar to a Post Office department or a PayPoint store.
Your power provider ought to make it clear the place the vouchers can be utilized.
You would possibly want to make use of photograph ID to assert the vouchers, so make certain to take a driving licence or passport with you to the top-up level.
Vouchers expire 90 days after being issued.
If you’re on a conventional prepayment meter and haven’t obtained your vouchers, or are uncertain the right way to redeem them, you must get in contact along with your provider.
People who haven’t redeemed their prepayment meter vouchers are urged to redeem them now, with the scheme remaining open till June 30.
Why aren’t folks claiming the vouchers?
Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps has pushed suppliers to do extra to assist weak clients entry assist.
Out of the tons of of 1000’s of vouchers despatched out, almost 80 per cent had been redeemed earlier than they expired.
Mr Shapps known as on power firms to “redouble their efforts”.
He stated: “The help we’ve put in place means we are covering around half of most households’ energy bills this winter — this is an unprecedented level of support.
“But many households are yet to redeem the vouchers they are entitled to and I want energy companies to redouble their efforts to get the support to those who need it.”