Vulnerable pensioners across the Isle of Wight will receive a winter windfall of £140 off their fuel bills thanks to Government efforts working with energy firms to cut their costs.
Eligible Pension Credit customers who qualify for the discount were identified after the Department for Work and Pensions cross-checked its records with energy suppliers.
Customer data was matched with records from more than 50 participating suppliers so that 95% of pensioners nationwide who will get the discount will receive it without having to lift a finger – savings totalling £137 million.
The deduction, called the Warm Home Discount Scheme, will be taken automatically from energy bills before March 2021, with most pensioners receiving their discounts between now and January.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Therese Coffey, said:
“This Government has actively helped pensioners on low incomes with their energy bills. We know how important it is that people keep their homes warm during the cold winter months, which is why I am thrilled that we have used our IT to ensure nearly one million pensioners automatically see their bills reduced.”
The Warm Home Discount Scheme will be extended until at least March 2022, reducing the pressures on low income and vulnerable customers worried about being able to pay their energy bills.
The £350million fund, which supports working-age people as well as pensioners, helps the government tackle fuel poverty across Britain by slashing the energy bills of low income households by £140 per year. Pension Credit provides extra income to those claiming State Pension, with 977,000 claimants pinpointed for the fuel discount through a data-matching exercise.
As always if rich, your are fine, if you have made no provision for old age you are catered for, IF you saved a little, you are punished.
A lesson in there somewhere, with little interest on savings, the mattress may need raising a little to then be ‘given’ what those who squandered all their lives, now gain by.
As always, some idiot on the internet passes judgement on the schemes in place to help vulnerable members of society. Moan, moan, moan, moan, moan……have you ever tried you view things from a different angle? Live and let live. If you’ve got nowhere in life, it’s your own fault, not the poor or vulnerable people of the world.
only qualify if claiming credits i dont because my pension is 4pound over the limit
Hate too say it but the over 75 fuel allowence £200plus should be means tested.its not
A family member is extremely rich and doesnt need it or even spend it on fuel!
Its tax payers money simply Wasted on some people
So weed out the rich and give too genuine poor please
I agree, there are many well of pensioners out there, it should be means tested as to my knowledge all pensioners get this allowance each year. The younger, hard working generation dont get this!