A Northern Ireland mum has slammed the delay in delivering the £400 energy bill support payment to households here this winter, branding it "disgusting".
Caroline Rice, from Co Fermanagh, is one of the many who has already factored in the discount into her budget this winter.
But uncertainty remains over when the payments, which are already making their way to households elsewhere in the UK, will reach those living in NI.
Read more: MLAs hit out at 'cruel' delay as NI last part of UK to get energy payment
UK households are due to be automatically credited with the payment to help with soaring energy costs this winter.
The scheme was due to be rolled out from November, according to former Prime Minister Liz Truss but no further details on the timeframe for receiving this money off bills have been revealed.
It is being managed centrally from Westminster through the UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.
The UK government has said it's "working at pace to deliver a solution which accounts for differences in the Northern Ireland energy market so it can get to households as soon as possible".
Earlier this week, it emerged that the energy discounts may not be forthcoming until the new year.
Kevin Shiels, the Utility Regulator's director of retail and consumer protection, said government ministers are "still working through" when households here will get the payment and whether it will be delivered as one lump sum or in several smaller installments.
He said he was hopeful the scheme would be delivered before Christmas, but could not guarantee anything, adding that it may be January before customers' accounts were credited.
Caroline, 49, from Lisnaskea, works as a classroom assistant and is a single mum to an 11-year-old daughter.
She told Belfast Live she believes it will be another few months before Northern Ireland benefits from the discount: "There's really nothing shockable anymore, it's just disgusting now.
"We were promised this money back in July and we're sitting now in November not knowing when we'll get it. I really think it will be February or the spring time at this rate.
"I'm working but I'm still on a low income as there's nothing left at the end of the month so this money would be a huge help.
"I don't even think it's a case of us getting this money last because we've been forgotten about, I believe it's more a case that we're not even considered and ignored. Our MLAs are asking where the money is but what have they been doing for these past four months."
"These are winter payments to keep our homes warm yet we're being told that we may not receive them until the new year. I've budgeted for this money to come in to cover my electric and put extra money towards oil.
"It was very foolish for some of us to start planning ahead thinking that we'd be a wee bit better off with this money coming."
Families in England, Scotland and Wales have already received at least £66 of the promised £400, which is being drip fed to households in monthly payments from October to March.
Homes over the water will get £66 off their monthly bill in October and November, with further £67 discounts applied in January, March and April.
While those with prepayment meters are getting the equivalent amount in vouchers, which they then need to redeem.
Those not on the main gas grid and therefore use alternative fuels like heating oil to warm their homes will instead receive a one-off £100 payment.
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