Octopus Energy tells customers £150 payment will now be automatic
Low-income households who qualify for winter support have been told payments will be automatic this year. It applies to those who receive the Warm Home Discount from their energy supplier.
The scheme sees £150 knocked off gas and electricity bills at one time only between October and March. Pensioners who qualify get the discount automatically but in previous years other households have had to complete and application form.
That will no longer be the case. These low-income households will be identified based on benefits they claim and the size and type of their property. This will allow energy companies to determine if they have both low incomes and high energy costs, two conditions which must be met in order to get the discount.
READ MORE: Nationwide, Lloyds, Santander and NatWest customers to get £275 in bank accounts
Get our best money saving tips and hacks by signing up to our newsletter
That means not everyone on the benefits, such as Universal Credit, Income Support and Housing Benefits, will get the discount. The Warm Home Discount allows those eligible to save on bills and put the extra cash towards other things.
Energy suppliers decide when to apply the discount, which could be any time between October and March. Those who qualify will be sent letters explaining what's happening.
Octopus Energy told customers: "You no longer need to complete an application form from your energy supplier. Eligible customers will be identified based on Low Income Criteria and High Energy Costs Criteria.
"The qualifying date for meeting these criteria is August 11, 2024. The criteria to qualify for this scheme are:
Be with an energy supplier that is part of the WHD scheme
Have your name on a bill or account with that supplier
You (or your partner) were in receipt of a qualifying means-tested benefit, or tax credit, as listed in the Low Income Criteria section below, on the qualifying date.
Live in a property identified as having high energy costs