Martin Lewis says state pensioners must 'take a picture' before end of September

Martin Lewis has urged state pensioners who've lost their £300 Winter Fuel Payment to "take a picture" before October 1. The BBC Sounds and ITV star has spoken out over the need for energy bill customers to log a meter reading before the new price cap.

For state pensioners, this is doubly important, because many have lost the £300 Winter Fuel Payment from the Labour Party government and the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ). It means pensioners face higher bills - without key support.

The Ofgem energy price cap will rise from October 1. Martin urged customers to take a photo of their energy meter with their phone in order to make sure you have proof of the reading you take to be sure you can’t be overcharged.

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That’s because - unless you have a very accurate working smart meter that’s updated instantly - the energy firms use estimates of bills. "When I first did this I suggested meter reading day and I crashed virtually every energy site," he said earlier this year.

“The real advice is, some point between now and next Wednesday- Thursday because you can backdate, go and get a meter reading. For belt and braces, you can take a picture of the meter." To make sure there are no discrepancies in the amount you're charged on the lower rate, it's a good idea to give a meter reading to your supplier on or around October 1.

Martin's Money Saving Expert team explained: "This stops your supplier from estimating your usage, and potentially assuming you've used more at the current higher rate than you actually have. There will be winners and losers here – as some will gain and others lose against what their supplier would have estimated – but if you do a meter reading, you know it's fair."

If you don't have smart meters, it's a good idea to give meter readings, but it doesn't have to be on October 1. You can give a reading a few days before or after and any discrepancy should be minor. Or, some firms let you backdate your reading, so if you take the actual meter reading on the day, note it down, but then submit it at a later date.