Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Business
Ruby Flanagan

Millions should have received £600 energy support payment by TODAY - who should check

Northern Ireland residents should have received their £600 energy bill support payment by today, February 28.

The money includes a £400 payment as part of a UK-wide cost of living support scheme and an additional £200 in recognition of the country's reliance on home heating oil.

The UK Government said all Northern Irish residents will receive this £200 "regardless" of how they heat their home.

The money started to be paid to Northern Irish residents from January 16 this year with £600 payments continuing to be paid until the end of February.

The way you get the money is dependent on how you pay your energy bills.

If you pay your bills by direct debit then it should be paid directly into your bank account.

If you pay another way, then your energy supplier will send you a voucher worth £600 and this then needs to be redeemed at your local post office.

The Government website says you will need to do this "as soon as possible" as the deadline for redeeming the cash is the end of March.

You will either receive the money directly into your bank account if you provide your bank card or you will receive the money in cash from the Post Office.

If you have not received your money or voucher by today, the Government advises you to contact your energy supplier directly.

Alongside this, the Government has finally opened the online portal for residents of Northern Ireland to apply for the £600 Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS AF) payment.

Around 28,000 households in Northern Ireland are eligible for this payment as it is given to those who do not have a direct relationship with a domestic electricity supplier.

This includes those living in park homes, care homes and households who get their energy through a commercial contract

You can reach the online portal by searching “Apply for energy bill support if you do not get it automatically in Northern Ireland” in the search bar on GOV.UK.

Once the application has been approved, the £600 payment will be made directly into your bank account by the Government’s finance delivery partner, UKSBS.

The Government has also launched a dedicated customer helpline on 0808 175 3894 to assist those who do not have online access.

Minister at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Amanda Solloway, described the online portal as the "final piece of the puzzle" in rolling out the payment.

She added: "It’s simple and easy to do and I want every household entitled to this to get your application in as soon as possible. The sooner you do, the sooner help can get to you."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.