Those using traditional prepayment meters should have received vouchers to help towards energy bills. But due to difficulties in receiving and redeeming the vouchers, there could be millions of people that have not benefited from the support scheme which ended in March.
Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire is calling on anyone who has not received the vouchers to contact their supplier to get them reissued. Those using prepayment meters should have received a total of six vouchers with a combined value of £400.
People using a traditional prepayment meter should have received a voucher for £66 in October and November and £67 in December, January, February and March. This would have been sent by text, email or post - though some people may have received an automatic credit when they top up instead.
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But the Fuel Bank Foundation charity has warned some 2 million vouchers have not yet been redeemed. In a letter to the Chancellor, the charity which supports people struggling with the cost of energy, highlighted the difficulty some people have had in accessing the vouchers they are entitled to.
The latest figures from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero confirm that just 76% of EBSS vouchers had been redeemed by legacy prepayment meter customers as of 20th February. The charity urges the government to redouble efforts “to connect funds to households that are currently missing out on this much-needed support, including ensuring the value of the unredeemed vouchers is credited to the accounts of people who are entitled to them.”
Emmanuelle Claverie, Lead Supervisor at Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire said: “It’s important people claim the money because they are entitled to it. People who are on smart meters would have got it automatically and people on old prepayment meters should get the same as everyone else.
“If they haven’t redeemed the vouchers they have until the end of June - after that they will have lost them. If they haven’t received them at all, they should go back to their energy providers - they are the ones who can reissue them.
“If they have a voucher which is out of date they can call their energy providers and ask them to reissue it. Any difficulties with energy providers, they can come to us at Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire.
“We can advocate on their behalf with their energy providers. We can support clients to make sure energy providers are doing what they are meant to do.”
Anyone in South Gloucestershire seeking free, independent, impartial and confidential advice from Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire can call 0808 278 7947 or visit: www.southgloscab.org.uk or to donate to Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire to visit: https://bit.ly/3kG7HyB.
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