MARTIN Lewis has warned that thousands of Brits could be missing out on £200 worth of energy bill help.
The money expert is urging people to check if they are eligible for The Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) scheme.
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Roughly 2.5million households who live off the gas grid have been able to apply for the funds from the start of this week.
Brits will only get the cash if they warm their home using alternative energy sources such as heating oil, biomass and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
But speaking on his money show last night on ITV, Martin warned that many of “the most vulnerable Brits” don’t even realise they are missing out on the money.
He explained: “It started to be paid out yesterday and I’m told it should finish being paid out this month.
“It’s automatically paid through your electricity supplier unless you are fully off-grid and don’t have electricity – in which case you’ll have to apply later in February.”
Martin warned that those who use pre-payment for their power need to be careful they receive vouchers for the scheme.
He said that 20 per cent of the most vulnerable previously failed to redeem voucher assistance from the Government when they announced a £400 energy bill discount last year.
Martin said: “Those on pre-payment, you’ll get vouchers. They’ll email you, they’ll post it or they may text you about it so watch out for that.
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“So many people haven’t redeemed their vouchers on the £400 on prepaid.
“20 per cent of often the most vulnerable people haven’t redeemed them. It’s absolutely tragic.
“I am suspicious that some people may not get this because they don’t have the details of who is on heating or LPG.”
It comes as large recent price rises have led to concerns about the impact on households that rely on oil for heating.
Recent government data suggests that Northern Irish households rely on heating oil the most – and costs have risen by up to 120 per cent in recent months.
