TENS of thousands of energy customers will receive £250 to cover the cost of bills this winter.
British Gas, the UK’s largest energy supplier, has announced it is extending its help for households on prepayment meters.
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Traditional prepayment meters can be topped up with credit bought from a local shop or Post Office.
Smart meters can be topped up the same way but you can also often top up online.
Either way, customers on prepayment meters are usually those struggling to pay for their energy and the most vulnerable and they can be a bad option as households self-disconnect leaving them without any gas or electric.
British Gas is stepping in and said eligible customers on traditional and smart prepayment meters will be issued a £250 credit in the coming months to cover their bills.
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The energy firm said low income households or those housing vulnerable people will be offered the money off first.
Customers on traditional prepayment meters will be issued a letter with a voucher inside which they can redeem at their nearest Post Office.
You can find your nearest Post Office by using the locator tool on its website.
Meanwhile, smart prepayment meter customers will see the £250 added as credit on to their meters.
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We have asked British Gas when exactly the £250 payments will be made and will update this story when we have heard back.
The money is non-repayable which means it does not have to be paid back.
It comes after British Gas issued £250 payments to thousands of customers for the first time in January.
The recent extension has been funded through the British Gas Energy Trust, which also provides grants to customers worth up to £1,500.
Chris O’Shea, chief executive officer of Centrica, parent company of British Gas, said: “Despite lower energy costs, we know that the cost of living is still a big problem for many households, and customers will still need support this winter.
“Companies have a duty to support loyal customers through difficult times and our £100 million support package, the biggest ever offered by any supplier, means that we can make sure help is available to those who need it most.
“As well as funding grants and advice centres, our expert teams will be reaching out to our customers who could benefit from direct support in the form of free credit on their meters.”
What other help is there?
If you’re not with British Gas and need help with your energy bills you have some options.
A number of firms offer grants to customers who are struggling to cover energy costs.
British Gas is one, but a number of others offer the help too, including Octopus Energy, EDF, Scottish Power and E.ON.
Eligibility criteria varies for each provider so you should get in touch with yours to find out more.
If you can’t get help through one of the above funds, you might be able to via the Household Support Fund, which is available to thousands of people across England.
What you are entitled to varies depending on where you live, but you usually receive help if you are on a low income or benefits.
Some households are being issued energy vouchers while others are receiving payments directly into their bank accounts.
You can find what council area you fall under by using the government’s council locator tool.
You just have to type in your postcode and it will tell you which local authority you should contact to see if you can get help.
Meanwhile, you might be able to get a cost of living payment to cover your energy bills.
There are still two instalments of the £900 payment either being paid, or set to come.
The payments are being made to anyone on the following benefits:
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If you’re not on one of the above benefits yet, it’s worth seeing if you qualify.
Not only will you start receiving money from the benefit, it could make you eligible for the second and third instalments of the £900 cost of living payment, worth £300 and £299.
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