THOUSANDS could get the £400 energy bill discount TWICE – we round up the full list of those set to benefit.
Last month, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that EVERY household in the UK would get £400 to pay for their energy bills.
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It was announced as part of a bumper package of support to help people get through a crippling cost of living crisis, as bills spiral.
Rishi said that every household will get a £400 grant which they WON’T have to pay back to put towards their energy bills.
It replaced previous plans for a £200 energy rebate, where households were told they would have to pay back in £40 instalments over five years.
But it has been revealed that some people will be paid the £400 help more than once – we explain who will cash in and who will miss out.
Who will be paid twice?
The £400 cost of living is paid directly to each household.
That means if you own more than one property, you’ll get a £400 payment for each home you own.
Anyone with a second home could get the benefit twice.
While landlords who own a portfolio of properties could be paid MULTIPLE times – once for each home they own.
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The £400 help will be dished out to households via their energy supplier.
Direct debit and credit customers will see the money credited to their account.
While those on pre-payment meters will get it added to their meter or receive a voucher.
Labour shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said it was “not right” that minted homeowners were in line to get the help multiple times.
She said: “You can now get a situation where somebody who’s incredibly wealthy gets £400 on three or four occasions because they own so many properties.”
Who will miss out?
Not everyone will get the £400 cost of living payment.
If you don’t pay your energy bills directly, or you live on a site where the utility is already provided, you won’t get the money off straight away.
For example, if your landlord is in charge of the direct debit for your energy bills, they will be named on the bill and get the cash directly.
If you pay an “all-in” fee that includes rent and utilities like water and energy, the discount should be handed over to you, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy said.
But it could be up to the landlord’s own discretion whether they pass this on through lower rent that month or not.
You may live in a park home, which means you pay a “pitch” charge to the owner of the site in order to be there.
Normally it lets you use the facilities like onsite bathrooms, or rig up to generators provided.
The site manager will get the £400 energy bill cash help – not you.
Although they may decide to lower what you pay that month.
The government is still consulting on exactly how the help will be dished out, so more details are expected to be revealed soon.
We will update this article when we know more.
Shelter chief executive Polly Neate said current plans for dishing out the £400 rebate could leave tenants “at the mercy of their landlord”.
She said tenants would be worried whether all landlords would “do the right thing by passing this much-needed support on.”
Rishi Sunak is being grilled by MPs tomorrow on how his £15billion cost of living package will be dished out – and it is likely to cover this issue.
The Chancellor has already urged loaded homeowners to give the £400 rebate to charity if they don’t need it.
He promised that was what he would do with the multiple handouts he was due to receive.
The Treasury has been contacted for comment.
Help if you’re struggling with your energy bills
Your first step should be to contact your energy supplier.
They may be able to change your payment plan or check if you’re eligible for their hardship fund.
For example, British Gas and Octopus have set up funds worth up to £750 to help customers who are struggling with their bills.
You can also search for charity grants that help you pay for gas and electricity bills.
There’s more help from the government on the way too, later in the year.
Those on Universal Credit and certain benefits will get a £650 one-off cost of living payment.
You can also apply for help through the Household Support Fund.
Thousands of pensioners in Reading for example can get up to £98 off their energy bills with the cash payment.
More money has been added to the pot, which means more families will be able to access the help.
It comes as Ofgem has warned that energy bills could hit £2,800 in October.
Meanwhile a payment of £300 will go to low-income pensioners and £150 extra is heading to those with certain disabilities too.
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