The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that energy suppliers can resume requesting new deductions or increases to existing deductions for Fuel Direct ongoing consumption payments, but must have the claimant’s consent first. For new requests, suppliers must also get a claimant’s consent before the request can be sent to the DWP.
However, DWP said in exceptional circumstances, when an energy supplier has exhausted all methods to contact a claimant, who has an existing arrangement, they can notify DWP. DWP will attempt to contact the claimant and advise them to contact the energy supplier.
If you owe money such as a court fine, rent, Council Tax or energy payments, money might be taken directly out of your benefits payments to pay the debt. This is sometimes called ‘third party deductions’ or, for gas and electricity payments, Fuel Direct.
