Martin Lewis has offered vital advice about a £200 energy support payment to households that use alternative fuels.
During an episode of the Martin Lewis Money Show, the consumer guru talked about energy and all the things you "need to know" about your bills going forward. He told viewers the Government has said it has given out the £200 alternative energy bill payment, including to those in Northern Ireland. However, some people may not have received the cash yet.
The explanation came after a question from a Money Saving Expert fan, called Stephen. Angellica Bell, Martin Lewis' co-host, said: "I live in our house and use domestic heating oil for my central heating and hot water. I have not yet received the £200 from the Government that was supposed to be credited to my electricity account as part of the domestic energy health scheme, how do I get this?"
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For those who had not received it, Martin warned that the deadline to apply for the cash was May 31 this year. He then explained why that was the case, reports The Mirror.
Martin said: "We've had a lot of those who haven't had their payment yet and I actually understand why. The reason is that electricity companies don't know who's got those fuels, and the database was never going to be 100% accurate."
Martin noted that the Government also does not have a database such as this, in a post on the Money Saving Expert website. Martin told viewers they are able to apply for the payment.
If you think you're eligible for the £200 payment, Martin said you needed to first check your bank or energy account if you pay by direct debit, on receipt of a bill or have a smart prepayment. If you're on a traditional prepayment meter, then you should've received a voucher for the discount which should have been sent by text, email or post.
If you have not got the payment, then his advice was to apply for the £200 through the Government's online portal on GOV.UK. For those without online access, you can call 0808 175 3287 or 0808 175 3894 in Northern Ireland from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
According to the Money Saving Expert website, to be able to apply for the payment, you will need to provide:
- an email address
- phone number
- bank account details - for the payment to be made into
- proof of purchase of alternative fuels since September 2022 totalling £200
For the "proof of purchase" you can upload up to two documents in your application and your proof of purchase must include:
- your address
- the type of fuel purchased
- date of purchase
- name and address of fuel supplier
- total amount spent
You should receive an email or letter within six weeks of applying, confirming whether you'll get the payment. If you're eligible, then you should be paid the £200 by your local authority via bank transfer.
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