Households with a traditional prepayment meter are being urged not to miss out on £400 of UK Government help with their energy bills before the end of this month, with £130 million still available to be claimed. Electricity suppliers, charities and consumer groups have joined forces with the UK Government for ‘Claim Your Energy Voucher Day’ in a final push to encourage households to claim their vouchers before the scheme ends on June 30.
All households were eligible for the UK Government's Energy Bills Support Scheme, which paid £400 in six instalments of £66 or £67 between October 2022 and March 2023. Traditional prepayment customers - often some of the most vulnerable - were paid in vouchers and millions remain unclaimed, however, while some customers did not get them, others have struggled to redeem them.
Customers need to visit a post office or PayPoint with their Energy Bills Support vouchers and identification before June 30. Any lost, missing or expired vouchers can be reissued as long as they are redeemed by the last day of this month.
Those on a traditional prepayment meter who have not received the vouchers, are unsure of how to redeem them or need a voucher to be reissued should contact their supplier.
The number of vouchers cashed in has reached an all-time high of 83 per cent, with prepayment meter users so far claiming nearly £650 million under the scheme, the latest figures show.
Almost a quarter of Scottish households with prepayment meters have not redeemed all of their energy rebate vouchers, increasing to one in three in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
At the end of March, there were more than 20,820 vouchers (34%) still unused in Edinburgh and 46,670 (30%) in Glasgow. Aberdeen had 16,890 (26%) vouchers unredeemed, and Dundee had 13,200 (19%) unused.
Advice Direct Scotland is urging people to:
- Check unopened mail and junk email, in case the vouchers have been missed
- Contact energy suppliers, using details found on bills, statements, and official websites
- Contact energyadvice.scot on 0808 196 8660 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm) if there are any difficulties getting through to suppliers or resolving issues
Scotland’s consumer charity also urges households self-rationing energy due to the cost of living crisis to seek support from homeheatingadvice.scot.
Energy minister Amanda Solloway said: "We've made huge strides in getting nearly £650 million from our Energy Bills Support Scheme out to prepayment meter customers, often in the homes that need it most.
"We are redoubling our efforts to reach anyone who still hasn't claimed this help and it's fantastic to see so many join our final push to spread the word.
"Tell friends and family or anyone on a traditional prepayment meter to use their vouchers for up to £400 off bills before June 30; there is still £130 million out there to claim."
Adam Scorer, chief executive at National Energy Action, said: "We urge anyone who hasn't yet claimed their vouchers to do so before the June 30 deadline and if you have friends and family that may not have used their vouchers, spread the word.
"It may be the support that keeps their lights on, their oven cooking, their hot showers running, through the summer. It's vital money at a time when it's never been needed more."
Households on a prepayment meter who use alternative fuels such as LPG, heating oil or biomass as the main way they heat their homes also have until June 30 to use their vouchers worth up to £200 in energy bills support. Customers will have received these vouchers in the post from their supplier and should contact them if they have any questions.
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