People are being urged not to miss an upcoming deadline for a £200 energy support scheme. The Welsh Government's fuel support scheme offers a one-off £200 payment to those on low incomes and who claim certain benefits.
First launched in December 2021, the fuel support scheme originally offered eligible claimants £100 towards their bills. In February 2022 this was doubled to £200 following concerns over the impact of soaring living costs. Energy costs are currently around double what they were last winter, despite the UK government's energy price guarantee.
Around 400,000 households in Wales were estimated to be eligible for this year's scheme which began in September. Ministers at Cardiff Bay confirmed in November that the scheme will not run in 2023/24 due to financial pressures in the budget. To get all the latest money-saving news straight to your inbox twice a week sign up here.
Read more: Millions to begin seeing £200 energy support drop into accounts
You have to apply to your local authority to get the money, and time is running out as the final date for you to qualify for the payment is fast approaching. Here is everything you need to know about the fuel support scheme in Wales.
What is the fuel support scheme?
The fuel support scheme offers eligible households a one-off £200 cash payment from their local authority. The money is to provide support towards paying fuel bills in addition to the winter fuel payment offered by the UK government. You can find out more about that here.
The payment will be available to all eligible energy customers regardless of how they pay for fuel including those who pay by pre-payment meter, direct debit, pay quarterly or for those who use off-grid fuel. The scheme is part of a £90m support package to address high living costs which have seen inflation soar to a 40-year high in the UK.
What is the criteria to apply?
The scheme will be open to households where an applicant or their partner is in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits at any time between September 1, 2022 and January 31, 2023:
- Income support
- Income based jobseeker's allowance
- Employment ad support allowance
- Universal credit
- Working tax credits
- Child tax credits
- Pension credit
- Personal independence payment (PIP)
- Disability living allowance (DLA)
- Attendance allowance
- Carers allowance
- Contributory benefits
- Council tax reduction scheme (CTRS)
- Armed Forces independence payment
- Constant attendance allowance
- War pension mobility supplement
Receipt of carers allowance includes those people who are being paid it and people who have claimed it but due to the overlapping benefit rules do not receive it as a cash benefit. One payment will be available to all eligible households however they pay for their fuel, and can be claimed regardless of whether they are using on or off-grid fuel.
What is the final date to apply and how do I do it?
The deadline to apply in Wales varies depending on the council, but most are giving a final date for applications of 5pm on Tuesday, February 28. Applications can be made to your local authority via their website. To find your local authority click here. Most councils have a dedicated 'fuel support scheme' page on their website which allows you to apply for the payment online.
However, you must be eligible for any of the above benefits by January 31, and you will need to check with your local authority to find out when the final date for applying is.
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