I got £150 for energy bills through a 'simple' process – hundreds of losses
SIXTY-year-old Nick Flatters has revealed how he secured a £150 electricity bill discount through a government scheme.
Millions of households will be eligible for a Warm Home Discount in England, Wales and Scotland this winter.
The scheme is a one-off £150 discount on your electricity bill, issued between October and March, and is delivered automatically in most cases.
But there are hundreds of thousands who must apply for the assistance or risk missing out, including those in park homes who must do so through the Charis Grants website.
Nick Flatters, 60, assumed the Warm Home Discount would be automatically paid into his account after moving into a park home in Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire, last year.
But by the time he realized he needed to file, it was too late and he missed the payment.
This winter he managed to get an application in on time, earning a £150 credit on his electricity bill. Now he is urging others to do the same.
“Once I realized my mistake and researched how to apply through the Charis website, it was a simple process,” he said.
“I feel like there is a disconnect between park homes and traditional homes that shouldn't be there.
“It's especially challenging for older, less computer-savvy residents who may not have the digital literacy to not only retrieve the information but actually make the application.
“As chairman of our residents' association, it amazes me how many people still don't know how to register.”
It comes as Charis Grants reveals more than £250,000 of Warm Home Discount funding has yet to be claimed.
It means more than 1,600 eligible park home residents have not been contacted.
Who is eligible for benefits?
You may be eligible for the Park Homes Warm Home Discount if you (or a household member) receive any of the following:
- Pension credit
- Income-related employment and support benefit
- Income-related jobseeker's allowance
- Income support
- Universal credit
- Child tax credit awarded based on an annual income of up to £18,723
- Working tax credit on the basis of an award based on an annual income of up to £18,723
- Housing benefit (or housing element if you receive Universal Credit)
You are also eligible if you do not receive benefits, but the total gross annual income for everyone living in your household is less than € 18,723.
How do I apply and how do I get paid?
Only residents of park homes can apply for the Park Homes Warm Home Discount.
You must register via the Charis Grants website.
You will need to provide details of the benefits you receive, plus income details for you and other household members.
You must also have a valid email address to receive the outcome of the decision and any requests for information.
Charis will also request your bank account details, as shown on your debit card, passbook or account statement, in order to make a payment directly to your bank.
If your application is successful, a payment of £150 will be paid directly into your bank or mortgage account before March 31, 2024.
Please note that you must apply by February 29 or you risk missing out.
If you are not a resident of a park home, in most cases you will receive payment automatically, although in some cases you will need to submit an application.
You can read more about who should apply before the February 29 deadline in our piece here.
What other energy bill help is there?
If you are not eligible for the Warm House Discount, you may be able to get help through the Household Support Fund (HSF).
The latest round of funding is worth £842 million and has been shared between councils in England.
They then decide how to divide their portion.
But what you are entitled to depends on where you live, as each local authority sets its own eligibility criteria.
In the vast majority of cases, you are eligible if you are on benefits, have a low income or are struggling financially.
You should contact your local council to see if assistance is offered. You can find out which local authority area you fall under by using the government's online council finder.
You may also be able to claim a free subsidy from your energy company if you are struggling to pay.
British Gas, Octopus Energy and EDF are among the major companies offering help.
In the meantime, it's worth checking if you qualify for benefits, as they could be worth thousands of pounds more per year.
You can check whether you may be eligible for benefits by using some free online calculators:
Do you have a money problem that needs to be solved? Get in touch by emailing money@the-sun.co.uk.
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