Last month, Rishi Sunak announced that households will receive £400 to help offset the cost of rising energy bills.
Unveiling a package of measures to help with the cost of living crisis, the Chancellor announced that the energy bills discount due to come in from October is being doubled from £200 to £400, while the requirement to pay it back will be scrapped.
This means households will receive a £400 discount on their energy bills from October. The payments will be paid directly to households across the UK by the UK Government.
READ MORE: HMRC giving UK parents a £500 tax free cash boost
However, not everyone will receive the extra financial help to tackle the next Ofgem price cap rise, which is expected to be more than £2,800, and there is still some confusion around eligibility - especially for people living in mobile homes, using off-grid gas supplies or having bills paid by their landlord, reports the Daily Record.
This week, Shadow Minister for International Trade, Ruth Cadbury MP, asked the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the UK Government “has taken to ensure that people who receive their energy supply through a third party can receive the £400 energy grant”.
In a written response on June 16, Energy Minister Greg Hands MP, said that the UK Government knows that there will be “different considerations for consumers depending on their circumstances” and the way in which they pay their energy bills.
He explained: “All domestic electricity customers who have a direct relationship with a licensed electricity supplier will be automatically eligible for this Scheme.
“The [UK] Government continues to work closely with consumer groups and suppliers to deliver the Scheme in a convenient way to domestic energy customers, including those who receive their energy supply through a third party.”
Last week Mr Hands responded to a similar query from Ayrshire and Arran MP, Patricia Gibson, who asked about ensuring people living in mobile homes, including those who are elderly and vulnerable, can access support for their energy bills this winter.
In a similar response, the Energy Minister, also said that the UK Government has raised this in its technical consultation on the Energy Bills Support Scheme. The responses to this consultation are currently being analysed and a response is due to be published later in the summer.
Mr Hands said: “Vulnerable consumers, including park home residents will be eligible for £140 contribution towards their energy bills each winter through the Government’s Warm Home Discount Scheme. It is anticipated that the Park Homes Warm Home Discount scheme will re-open again in September 2022. Other support available includes the Winter Fuel Payments and Cold Weather Payments.”
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
Iceland and Morrisons warnings with shoppers told not to eat chicken or curries
TUI, easyJet, Ryanair and Jet2 latest updates for Manchester Airport passengers
Phillip Schofield cries as Dame Kelly Holmes admits she 'didn't want to be here'
