Earlier this year, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) introduced a temporary change to the Fuel Direct scheme in order to protect people claiming benefits from soaring energy bills.
The change means that from April 1, 2022 to April 1, 2023, energy suppliers can no longer request new deductions or increased payments from a claimant’s benefit to pay for ongoing fuel consumption. And, as millions of households brace themselves for what is expected to be a new price cap of almost £3,600 for those on a standard tariff from October, DWP has shared an update on the scheme.
DWP said: “For claimants who pay for their ongoing fuel usage directly from their benefits, the amount they pay was not automatically increased if their bill went up in April 2022 and will not automatically increase when the price cap changes in October 2022.”
