Full list of people who WON’T get £400 cost of living payment to help with energy bills from this week

MILLIONS of households are set to get £400 wiped off their energy bills from this week, but some will miss out.

Families will start receiving money off their energy bills from October in six instalments.

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A discount of £66 will be applied to energy bills in October and November, going up to £67 each month from December through to March 2023.

However, thousands of people will fall through the cracks of the rebate scheme and it could be down to different factors, including how they pay their rent or where their home is.

And despite the government’s new Energy Price Guarantee, the average household’s annual energy bill is still set to reach £2,500 from October 1.

Households are being urged to do a meter reading ahead of the bill hikes.

By taking meter readings, it will ensure you are billed correctly for your usage up until now ahead of the price rise.

If you don’t pay your energy bills directly or you live on a site where the utility is already provided, for example, you won’t get the money-off straight away.

For everyone who IS eligible the money will be administered by energy suppliers.

If you want to know more about how your energy supplier is applying the discount, you can read our guide.

Those with a domestic electricity meter point paying for their energy via standard credit, payment card and direct debit will receive an automatic deduction to their bills.

Traditional prepayment meter customers will be provided with energy bill discount vouchers in the first week of each month, issued via text message, email or post, using the customer’s registered contact details. 

Smart prepayment meter customers will see the energy bill discount credited directly to their smart prepayment meters in the first week of each month of delivery.

Anyone with a second home could find they benefit MULTIPLE times from the scheme, as eligible households will get the discount applied automatically.

Meanwhile, here’s everyone who WON’T get the money-off automatically.

Who WON’T get the £400 energy bill discount automatically

Renters who pay “all-in”

The government has said it recognises that there are certain situations where a third party will be responsible for the bill.

It could be that your landlord is actually in charge of making the direct payments every month and is therefore named on the bill.

You instead might pay an “all-in” fee that includes your rent AND utilities like water, energy or even WIFI.

According to a recent report by Citizens Advice, almost 585,000 renters are currently signed up to a “bills included” contract with their landlords.

The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy has passed legislation to make sure landlords pass the £400 energy bill discount onto these renters.

It could mean your landlord cuts some of the price of your rent that month, given they’ve got the money-off.

But it means that you won’t get the £400 discount automatically – instead, it will be passed down by your landlord.

The government has confirmed that further funding will be available to provide equivalent support of £400 for energy bills for the 1% of households who will not be reached through the energy bill support scheme.

An announcement with details on how and when these households across Great Britain can access this support will be made this Autumn.

Park Home tenants

The government announced this week how park home residents will get the £400 support.

Payments of £100 will be given to households who are not able to receive support for their heating costs through the energy price guarantee – like those who live in park homes.

This is because they don’t get their energy from the gas grid so the £100 is to compensate for the rising costs of alternative fuels such as heating oil.

The £400 bill support will also be passed down to park home residents.

You also might pay a “pitch” charge if you live in a park home.

A pitch fee is what you pay to the site owner by a park homeowner for the use of the site.

Normally it lets you use the facilities like onsite bathrooms, or rig up to generators provided.

Costs can vary from site to site and by individual pitches.

But the same idea applies, you won’t see the money-off from the government yourself, but your site manager could lower what you pay that month.

Households on heating networks

The government had in recent week failed to clarify how more than 17,000 additional households that rely on heating networks to warm their homes will receive the discount.

These households are on communal networks and have their heating supplied through a central boiler that reaches all homes in a building, rather than having an individual boiler in their home.

They pay for their heating bills via service charges.

However, new legislation will ensure these homes get the money off in the same way as renters and park home residents will – through the housing association or landlord.

What help is there if I’m already struggling with my energy bills?

Households are already struggling to cover the cost of their energy bills, so further rises will only mean they need more support.

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 should also check that you’re getting all the benefits you’re entitled to.

Use an online benefits calculator to make sure you’re not missing out on any extra cash.

Similarly, you can 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.

Not only will households be lined up for the £400 help, but for those on Universal Credit and certain benefits a £650 one-off payment will be on the way.

Meanwhile a payment of £300 will go to low-income pensioners and £150 extra is heading to those with certain disabilities too.

They could get aid from the recently extended Household Support Fund too.

Thousands of pensioners in Reading for example can get up to £98 off their energy bills with the cash payment.

The fund as a whole has been through a shake-up again, with more money pumped into it to help families with the rising cost of living.

But you’ll have to contact your local council to find out what support is available in your area.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk