You could be £750 better off if you take the advice of money saving expert Martin Lewis. The financial guru who has been helping people with their finances since 2003 is urging people to check if they are owed £750 through a winter funds scheme launched by some energy firms to counter rising bills.
Eligible customers can claw back money using these schemes set up by some energy companies. British Gas' Winter Fund gives some customers who are eligible, up to £750 toward the cost of their energy bills.
According to British Gas, the average payout per grant so far has been £510. This news will be welcomed by consumers affected by the cost of living increases and recent price hikes in food and fuel.
As reported by Manchester Evening News, energy bills will rise by an average of 54% next month as the price cap is increased significantly. The cap is rising from £1,277 a year to £1,971 on April 1, with further rises expected from October.
But Martin Lewis says many households are paying even more than that. A caller to ITV's This Morning programme said her annual energy bill was estimated to be £5,000, as she has a son that needs a ventilator for 22 hours a day.
Speaking on the show, Lewis warned the caller, Marie, that this bill was going to get even more expensive. "That's going to get bigger.
"I think we are at near-crisis stage for many people with disabilities and vulnerabilities at the moment. £5,000 is not an excessive bill compared to some of the people out there, it is going to get even higher.
"Intervention is absolutely critical." Lewis, the founder of MoneySavingExpert, said that there is financial help out there for people struggling with their energy bills.
He added: "I would suggest you call someone like National Energy Action to see if there are any of the energy company trust funds that are available to help you out and there is anything you are missing out on in a one-on-one assessment of your situation." National Energy Action is a charity that helps Brits with fuel poverty.
Many energy companies have launched hardship funds to help customers with rising fuel bills and associated debt. For example, British Gas has launched its British Gas Winter Fund, which gives eligible customers up to £750 toward the cost of their energy bills.
British Gas says the average payout per grant so far has been £510. Other similar grants include the Ovo Energy Fund, E.ON Energy Fund, Bulb Energy Fund and the EDF Energy Customer Support Fund.
British Gas had an Energy Trust Individual and Families grant that gave money off unpaid energy bills. This was open to all customers, not just those with British Gas.
Although this year’s Individuals and Families fund for energy grant applications ended last week, it will reopen on July 1. The Winter Fund is still open for British Gas customers only.
Elsewhere, the Warm Home Discount is available to some people on benefits with more information available at Citizens Advice. The scheme could help you take £140 off your bills.
Shelter also provides information to help people struggling to pay their energy bills. It can give more detail of the Warm Home Discount and explain what you can get dependent on your particular circumstance.
