More than £100m of vouchers within the authorities's Energy Bills Support Scheme have nonetheless not been claimed, with just a few days to go earlier than the deadline.

Households on prepayment meters have been informed to redeem their vouchers by 30 June - in a last push to assist these but to profit from a reduction on their payments in the course of the spiralling cost of living crisis.

Here's every little thing you'll want to know earlier than Friday's deadline.

What is the Energy Bills Support Scheme?

The Energy Bills Support Scheme was put in place to present households a £400 low cost on their energy bills in the course of the winter between 1 October 2022 and 31 March 2023 in England, Scotland and Wales.

In Northern Ireland, individuals may get £600 beneath the Northern Ireland Energy Bills Support Scheme.

The low cost was despatched mechanically to these paying by direct debit, with six instalments of £66 or £67 despatched every month over the winter.

People on conventional prepayment meters have been resulting from obtain vouchers by textual content, electronic mail or put up which they may redeem once they high up at their typical level.

However, many on prepayment meters, usually essentially the most weak, haven't taken benefit of the federal government low cost.

How do I do know if I'm eligible?

"All households with a domestic electricity connection in England, Scotland and Wales were eligible for the discount," the federal government web site has mentioned.

And you'll nonetheless get the low cost if:

• You have modified your fee methodology or tariff

• If you have got switched electrical energy suppliers

• If you have got moved to a brand new tackle

• If your provider goes bust

• If you are at present in arrears in your electrical energy invoice funds

How can I declare my vouchers?

According to the federal government web site, if in case you have a conventional prepayment meter, you mechanically bought a reduction every month both as a redeemable voucher despatched by textual content, electronic mail or put up, or an computerized credit score once you topped up at your typical top-up level.

Remember, vouchers expire after 90 days, however you may ask your electrical energy provider to reissue the vouchers earlier than the deadline.

Once you get your voucher, you may have to take it to the Post Office or a PayPoint store so as to add it to your gasoline or electrical energy top-up key or card.

How did different individuals get their reductions?

If you have got a good prepayment meter, your low cost was credited on to your good meter within the first week of every month, in accordance with the federal government web site.

If you pay by credit score or debit card, your low cost was mechanically utilized to your account.

If you make your funds by direct debit, you bought the low cost mechanically both as a discount to your month-to-month invoice or a refund was made to your account.

Do I would like proof of ID to redeem the vouchers?

Yes, however this depends upon your vitality provider, so remember to test the corporate's web site earlier than going to assert your vouchers.

Proof of ID or tackle consists of:

• Bank assertion

• UK driving licence

• Household invoice

• UK passport

• Council tax invoice

Read extra from Sky News:Full list of cost of living payments for 2023 and 2024More than 6m people with disabilities to start receiving £150 cost of living payment

With the deadline closing in, individuals are being urged to redeem their vouchers.

So far, London has had the bottom redemption price for a month.

In town, there have been greater than 650,000 vouchers unclaimed on the finish of March when the scheme was imagined to have ended.

The record of areas with the share of vouchers not redeemed are:

Cities of London and Westminster - 44%

Hampstead and Kilburn - 44%

Ealing Central and Acton - 41%

Brent Central - 39%

Finchley and Golders Green - 39%

Glasgow Central - 38%

Hendon - 36%

Westminster North - 35%

Chelsea and Fulham - 35%

Hornsey and Wood Green - 35%

Brighton Pavilion - 34%

Holborn and St Pancras - 32%

Greenwich and Woolwich - 31%

Ealing North - 31%

Ilford North - 30%

'The help that retains their lights on'

Fuel poverty charity National Energy Action (NEA) mentioned individuals ought to benefit from the vouchers and redeem them earlier than the deadline. Those with unclaimed vouchers are urged to contact their electrical energy provider as quickly as potential.

NEA chief govt Adam Scorer mentioned the NEA "knows how crucial the government's Energy Bills Support Scheme has been. The £400, paid in six instalments of £66 or £67, has helped many people this winter.

"But prepayment clients - usually a number of the most weak - have been paid in vouchers and hundreds of thousands stays unclaimed. Some clients did not obtain them, others struggled to redeem them."

Mr Scorer said the discount "could be the help that retains their lights on, their oven cooking, their sizzling showers operating, by way of the summer season. It's very important cash at a time when it is by no means been wanted extra."