Nearly two million households are set to receive an extra £200 towards their heating bills from this week.
Families who don't use mains gas will be getting the Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP), and should start to see their money in the next few weeks. This includes people who live in park homes, houseboats, off-grid and care homes, or those paying their energy bills as part of an all-inclusive rental agreement with their landlord.
Most will get the £200 automatically as a credit on their electricity bill throughout February and won't have to do anything if they receive electricity to their homes. The money is in addition to the £400 Energy Bill Support Scheme (EBSS) paid through their electricity supplier, reports Chronicle Live.
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The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has said the automatic payments are expected to be completed within the month - although this will depend on customers’ suppliers and how they pay their bills.
However the Government has warned that some households will need to apply for the support later this month and has warned people to be on their guard against scammers trying to con them into giving their details. Families who will need to apply include the small minority of customers with no direct energy supplier, such as those living in park homes or on static houseboats.
These households will need to use an online portal that will launch later this month, as there is no central register of people who don't use mains gas to heat their homes. An application portal on gov.uk will open later in February, alongside further information on which households will need to apply. Those who are on the gas grid but don't have a gas connection and are using alternative fuels as their main heating source will also probably need to take this route.
Customers who need to apply should take no action until the online portal launches later in February. The application process will require customers to enter their household bank details onto the gov.uk portal.
A Government spokesperson said: "Customers will not be asked for details by any individual or organisation prior to this or outside of the portal, and any such contact is likely to be a scam. If you require additional help when applying for your AFP support, you may wish to seek assistance from a family member or trusted friend."
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