A MAJOR energy supplier is giving thousands of customers a £150 free bill boost from today.
Shell Energy has offered the extra cash to those who already qualify for the £150 Warm Home Discount.
Avalon.redShell Energy customers eligible for the £150 warm home discount will get another payment boost worth £150 from today[/caption]
The cash boost will go to 157,000 Shell Energy customers who have had the payment.
The fresh £150 payment is being offered by Shell Energy whereas the Warm Home Discount is a government scheme.
It doubles the total cash offered to hard-up customers to £300.
Customers do not have to apply for the additional payment, it will appear automatically as a credit on their next bill.
If you have a smart prepayment meter, the credit will also be applied automatically.
But if you have a traditional prepayment meter which requires top-up via card or key the £150 cash boost will be sent to you as a voucher which can be redeemed when you next top up.
You’ll be eligible for the top-up payment if you received certain benefits and joined Shell Energy on or before August 21, 2022.
The Warm Home Discount is available to those on the lowest incomes to help with rising costs.
Energy suppliers will dish out the help, worth £150, this year – and unlike previous years, you no longer have to apply for the support.
You’ll automatically qualify if you receive certain benefits.
Tony Keeling, chief executive officer, Shell Energy said: “In recognising the challenges faced by many households as a result of cost of living pressures and high energy costs, we are providing additional support to those who need it most.
“By targeting those who are eligible for the Warm Home Discount, and funding a doubling of their payment, we’re providing direct support to those who we know are struggling.
“We have a package of measures and we will do everything we can to help those struggling this winter.”
How do I qualify for the warm home discount?
You’ll need to be a recipient of one or more of the following benefits to qualify for the automatic £150 discount:
Income supportIncome-based jobseeker’s allowanceIncome-related employment and support allowanceHousing benefitUniversal CreditChild tax creditWorking tax creditsPension credit guaranteedPension credit savings credit
If you weren’t claiming any of the above benefits on August 21, you won’t be eligible for the payment.
The Department for Work and Pensions, which is overseeing the scheme, should have sent you a letter in October to confirm if you are eligible for the payment.
Payments for the £150 Warm Home Discount scheme began in December 2022 and will continue until the end of March 2023.
It’s up to individual energy companies to decide when they will give their customers the discount.
What other energy bill help is available?
A £900 payment will be going to millions on means-tested benefits and Universal Credit this year.
To be eligible for the payment, households will need to be claiming at least one of the following:
Income-based Jobseeker’s AllowanceIncome-related Employment and Support AllowanceIncome SupportPension CreditTax Credits (Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit)Housing BenefitCouncil Tax SupportSocial Fund (Sure Start Maternity Grant, Funeral Payment, Cold Weather Payment)Universal Credit
Elderly Brits will receive another one-off £300 pensioner cost of living payment.
Those with certain disabilities will also qualify for a further £150 cost of living payment.
Energy suppliers also offer plenty of energy grants and schemes to help you out if you’re struggling. Here’s a list of schemes open right now:
British Gas Energy Trust Individuals and Family FundBritish Gas Energy TrustEDF Customer Support FundE.ON and E.ON Next GrantsOctopus Energy Assist FundOVO EnergyScottish Power Hardship Fund
There’s also a one-off fuel voucher from your energy supplier if you’re on a prepayment meter.