Thousands of British Gas customers still waiting for help as cold sets in

While the money is automatically credited to the accounts of customers who pay by direct debit, the 2m homes with prepay meters need a paper voucher sent by post by their energy supplier. Photograph: Chris Harris/Alamy

As Britain enters a week of sub-zero temperatures, it has emerged that thousands of British Gas customers with prepayment meters are still waiting for government help, with a third yet to receive any of their monthly £66 energy support vouchers.

According to a survey of 5,500 people by MoneySavingExpert.com, about 20% of all households with a traditional prepayment meter – which include some of the poorest and most vulnerable – are yet to receive vouchers from their energy suppliers.