British Gas, EDF, OVO, Octopus paying customers free £150 'direct' payment
Energy firms giving away free £150 this winter to help with bills have been revealed. The scheme aims to provide relief for the most vulnerable households and consists of a direct £150 credit to your account with your energy supplier.
The help is being provided via the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and government's Warm Home Discount scheme. The Warm Home Discount scheme gives eligible households £150 towards their energy costs every year. It's available to millions of households in England, Scotland and Wales.
The £150 is typically deducted from your electricity bill, but you may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead, as long as your supplier provides both your gas and electricity. You'll need to contact your supplier to find out if the discount can be applied to your gas bill instead.
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According to GOV.UK, the following suppliers took part in last year's Warm Home Discount scheme. This means it is likely they will be a part of this year's too - although this has not been confirmed.
100Green (formerly Green Energy UK or GEUK)
Affect Energy
Atlantic
Boost
British Gas
Bulb Energy
Co-op Energy
E
Ecotricity
E.ON Next
EDF
Good Energy
London Power
Octopus Energy
Outfox the Market
OVO
Rebel Energy
Sainsbury’s Energy
Scottish Gas
Scottish Hydro
ScottishPower
Shell Energy Retail
So Energy
Southern Electric
SSE Energy Services
Swalec
Tomato Energy
TruEnergy
Utilita
Utility Warehouse
In England & Wales, the scheme is divided into Core Group 1 and Core Group 2. If you or your partner receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit (even if you get Savings Credit as well) you could qualify under Core Group 1.
If your household is identified as having high energy costs, and you receive certain means-tested benefits or Tax Credits, you could qualify under Core Group 2. The means-tested benefits and Tax Credits are Income related Employment and Support Allowance, Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit, Universal Credit and Child Tax Credits, as well as Working Tax Credits and Pension Credit Savings Credit.
Households in receipt of Universal Credit must be below a monthly household income threshold of £1,665. Households in receipt of these Tax Credits must be below an annual household income threshold of £19,978.
If you are in receipt of both Pension Credit Savings Credit (PCSC) and the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, you should be eligible for a rebate under Core Group. A household cannot receive a rebate under both Core Groups.