Carmarthenshire Champion welcomes fuel bills move
Carmarthenshire's Anti Poverty Champion has welcomed Government plans to knock up to £20 million off fuel bills for poor pensioners.
Around 250,000 pensioners across the UK are receiving a one-off £80 rebate, thanks to a deal by the Government and the leading energy suppliers announced earlier this year.
Up to £20 million is being paid out by the largest energy companies in a one-off rebate to some of the pensioners who need the most help with their fuel costs.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is writing to all those who are eligible to let them know either that their rebate will be paid automatically, or asking people to call the DWP Helpline and confirm their entitlement.
The DWP shared some of its customer data securely with the energy companies so they could identify the poorest pensioners.
Carmarthenshire’s executive board member for wellbeing and Anti Poverty Champion Cllr Kevin Madge said: “I welcome this help for the poorest pensioners. It will be of real help to a lot of people in Carmarthenshire.”
Those eligible are households where at least one person is aged 70 or over, receiving the guaranteed element of Pension Credit but not the savings credit element, are responsible for the electricity account where they live and don’t already benefit from a discounted tariff.
Energy and Climate Change Minister Gregory Barker, said: "This scheme is a huge step forward in the way we help the most vulnerable people in society pay their fuel bills in the future. Fuel poverty remains a massive concern.”
The energy suppliers participating are British Gas, EDF Energy, E.ON, npower, ScottishPower, and Scottish and Southern Energy and their subsidiary companies.
More information is available at www.direct.gov.uk/energyrebate or via the Scheme helpline on 0845 600 0033.
Around 250,000 pensioners across the UK are receiving a one-off £80 rebate, thanks to a deal by the Government and the leading energy suppliers announced earlier this year.
Up to £20 million is being paid out by the largest energy companies in a one-off rebate to some of the pensioners who need the most help with their fuel costs.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is writing to all those who are eligible to let them know either that their rebate will be paid automatically, or asking people to call the DWP Helpline and confirm their entitlement.
The DWP shared some of its customer data securely with the energy companies so they could identify the poorest pensioners.
Carmarthenshire’s executive board member for wellbeing and Anti Poverty Champion Cllr Kevin Madge said: “I welcome this help for the poorest pensioners. It will be of real help to a lot of people in Carmarthenshire.”
Those eligible are households where at least one person is aged 70 or over, receiving the guaranteed element of Pension Credit but not the savings credit element, are responsible for the electricity account where they live and don’t already benefit from a discounted tariff.
Energy and Climate Change Minister Gregory Barker, said: "This scheme is a huge step forward in the way we help the most vulnerable people in society pay their fuel bills in the future. Fuel poverty remains a massive concern.”
The energy suppliers participating are British Gas, EDF Energy, E.ON, npower, ScottishPower, and Scottish and Southern Energy and their subsidiary companies.
More information is available at www.direct.gov.uk/energyrebate or via the Scheme helpline on 0845 600 0033.
Comments