Almost three million extra households will be eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount next winter after the Government announced changes to the criteria of the scheme
Martin Lewis has revealed how millions more households could get a £150 energy bill discount. The scheme gives those on benefits or low income a one-off reduction.
It comes as the average household energy bill is set to shoot up by £111 per year as part of Ofgem’s price cap. The rise is down to an increase in European gas prices caused by a slump in the amount of the fuel held on the continent.
The Government has announced it is looking into offering more support to consumers in an “unpredictable international energy market”. The Department of Energy Security and New Zero (DESNZ) announced one in five families are in line for financial help in the new proposals.
An estimated 2.7million extra households, including nearly one million families, will be eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount next winter, the department added. With all these new additions to the scheme, the total number of recipients would be 6.1million.
On his Martin Lewis Money Show Live TV show, the financial guru explained all the finer details. He said: “The Warm Home Discount is £150 given to homes on low incomes.
“If you’re on the guaranteed element of Pension Credit, you get it. You also, if you’re on means-tested benefits, like Universal Credit that helps working and non-working people on low incomes, you get it, as long as your home has a high energy rating.
“In other words, it’s inefficient. It’s a perverse system that rewards people for inefficiency – and the way it’s being put in practice has been absolutely terrible.
“The Government announced today they’re scrapping that criteria. So now everyone on means-tested benefits, the right means-tested benefits, will be eligible.
“It’s £150, 2.7million extra people. Hopefully this winter.”
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