More than £25 million in energy support vouchers for households on prepayment meters has not been claimed. It means that many of the over four million people who pay for energy in this way are missing out on some or all of the Government's scheme to take £400 off people's bills.
The Energy Bill Support Scheme began in October, and since the start of the month households should have started to receive the first instalment of the funds. But figures from an in-store payment company, reported by the BBC, show that only half of the expected value of vouchers had been redeemed.
Many people will have the £400 taken off their bills automatically, in six instalments across the winter, but those on prepayment meters need to claim vouchers to get the discount. Traditional prepayment meters are topped up via a key or card in a local newsagent or Post Office.
