More than £100m of vouchers in the government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme have still not been claimed, with only a few days to go before the deadline.
Households on prepayment meters have been told to redeem their vouchers by 30 June – in a final push to help those yet to benefit from a discount on their bills during the spiralling cost of living crisis.
Here’s everything you need to know before Friday’s deadline.
What is the Energy Bills Support Scheme?
The Energy Bills Support Scheme was put in place to give households a £400 discount on their energy bills for the winter season between 1 October 2022 and 31 March 2023 in England, Scotland and Wales.
In Northern Ireland, people could get £600 under the Northern Ireland Energy Bills Support Scheme.
The discount was sent automatically to those paying by direct debit, with six instalments of £66 or £67 sent each month over the winter.
People on traditional prepayment meters were due to receive vouchers by text, email or post which they could redeem when they top up at their usual point.
However, many on prepayment meters, often the most vulnerable, have not taken advantage of the government discount.
How do I know if I am eligible?
“All households with a domestic electricity connection in England, Scotland and Wales were eligible for the discount,” the government website has said.
And you will still get the discount if:
• You have changed your payment method or tariff
• If you have switched electricity suppliers
• If you have moved to a new address
• If your supplier goes bust
• If you’re currently in arrears on your electricity bill payments
How can I claim my vouchers?
According to the government website, if you have a traditional prepayment meter, you automatically got a discount each month either as a redeemable voucher sent by text, email or post, or an automatic credit when you topped up at your usual top-up point.
Remember, vouchers expire after 90 days, but you can ask your electricity supplier to reissue the vouchers before the deadline.
Once you get your voucher, you’ll need to take it to the Post Office or a PayPoint shop to add it to your gas or electricity top-up key or card.
How did other people get their discounts?
If you have a smart prepayment meter, your discount was credited directly to your smart meter in the first week of each month, according to the government website.
If you pay by credit or debit card, your discount was automatically applied to your account.
If you make your payments by direct debit, you got the discount automatically either as a reduction to your monthly bill or a refund was made to your account.
Do I need proof of ID to redeem the vouchers?
Yes, but this depends on your energy supplier, so be sure to check the company’s website before going to claim your vouchers.
Proof of ID or address includes:
• Bank statement
• UK driving licence
• Household bill
• UK passport
• Council tax bill
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With the deadline closing in, people are being urged to redeem their vouchers.
So far, London has had the lowest redemption rate for a month.
In the city, there were more than 650,000 vouchers unclaimed at the end of March when the scheme was supposed to have ended.
The list of areas with the percentage 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%
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‘The support that keeps their lights on’
Fuel poverty charity National Energy Action (NEA) said people should take advantage of the voucher and redeem it before the deadline. Those with unclaimed vouchers are urged to contact their electricity supplier as soon as possible.
NEA chief executive Adam Scorer said 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 customers – often some of the most vulnerable – were paid in vouchers and millions remains unclaimed. Some customers didn’t receive them, others struggled to redeem them.”
Mr Scorer said the discount “may be the support that keeps their lights on, their oven cooking, their hot showers running, through the summer. It’s vital money at a time when it’s never been needed more.”
