A 74-YEAR-OLD pensioner who is one of thousands NOT entitled to the government’s £400 cost of living payment says she feels she’s been left on the “scrapheap”.
Ruth Massey lives on a park home site in Whitegate, Cheshire with her husband Tony, 77.
1
Park homes are located on private leisure or holiday parks and have their own “pitch”.
People who live on such sites typically pay a service fee to the operator, which includes their bills and utilities.
That means Ruth and Tony’s electricity is not provided through a domestic electricity supply contract like other households.
And as a result they are one of thousands who will not be entitled to the £400 energy rebate announced by Rishi Sunak last month.
Now Ruth works part-time in credit control and has tried to up her hours to increase her income as the cost of living crisis starts to bite.
“I still work part-time, because I have to, but there are people here on our site on a very set income,” said Ruth.
“Pensioners didn’t get anything in the pandemic and now this on top, it’s just adding insult to injury.
“It just seems like a loophole for the government to get out of paying it.”
Most read in Money
Chancellor Rishi Sunak last month revealed a package of measures designed to help households cope with soaring energy bills and a cost of living crisis.
He said every household in the country would receive a £400 energy bill rebate.
But it has since emerged that thousands of people up and down the country will not get this vital lifeline.
Among them are renters who pay an “all-in” fee which includes their rent and utilities, where their landlords are responsible for paying bills such as water, energy and even broadband.
And park home tenants like Ruth, who pay a pitch fee to the site owner, will also miss out.
Ruth and Tony pay £203 a month, although their property is only one-bedroom.
Ruth said others on the site pay more than them as well.
The pitch fee typically includes onsite facilities such as bathrooms and generators. But because these household don’t have a direct contract with an energy supplier, they will not get the payment.
Ruth said: “We seem to be the forgotten generation.
“The cost of living and everything is going up and we just feel ignored and like we’ve been left on the scrapheap.
“I’ve been working since I was seven years old – 60 years’ worth of my contribution, and now this.”
The government has said it is investigating how the discount could be passed on in these situations.
But meanwhile, some people will get the payment TWICE, or even more.
Because the money is being dished out on a per-property basis, anyone with a second home will get double the cash.
A government spokesperson said it was working with consumer groups and suppliers to ensure “as many people as possible” get access to the £400 payment, including “exploring alternative payment options for those living in park homes”.
It added: “We will publish a response to our consultation on this later in the summer.”
What other energy bill help can I get?
Energy bills are only set to go up more in just months, adding further strain to household finances.
Ofgem has warned that bills could hit £2,800 in October, as plenty of other costs soar too.
But there is help out there if you are struggling with your finances.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced last month the Energy Bills Support Scheme which will see all households with a domestic electricity connection get a one-off £400 payment.
The payment is expected from October over a six month period and direct debit and credit customers will have the money credited to their account.
Customers with pre-payment meters will have the money applied to their meter or paid via a voucher.
On top of this, some energy companies also offer targeted support if you are struggling to afford your bills.
OVO Energy, for example, offer payment plans, Pay As You Go meters, and also has an Energy Fund, which helps customers who have fallen behind with their payments.
There is also the Warm Home Discount Scheme, which offers households £140 off their electricity bill for the winter.
The money is not paid to you, but is a one-off discount on your electricity bill, between October and March.
You may even be able to get a discount on your gas bill instead if your supplier provides you gas and electricity.
Your best bet is contacting your supplier to find out more.
You can see if you are eligible for the Warm Home Discount Scheme by going on the government’s website.
One other option is to contact your local Citizen’s Advice branch – they may be able to offer you guidance about who to contact for extra help.
If you don’t know where your nearest Citizen’s Advice branch is, you can use their branch locator.
We pay for your stories!
Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team?
This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk
