Thousands of British Gas customers to get up to £250 free credit to help with energy bills – are you one of them?
THOUSANDS of British Gas customers can get up to £250 in free credit.
The support is only available to customers who pay for their energy bills through a pre-payment meter.
It is a discretionary payment of credit up to £250 for those struggling with energy costs.
That means it’s up to British Gas to decide who gets the help, and not everyone on a prepayment meter will be eligible.
Customers don’t need to contact British Gas to apply for the help.
Those who are eligible and need it will be identified and provided with this support.
It comes as part of a new £10million package for vulnerable pre-payment customers.
Other support being offered includes extra vulnerability checks for those who need them.
The energy company has also said it will not move customers onto pre-payment meters this winter unless they request it.
It will also be providing smart pre-payment meters to those who are struggling with rising costs.
Chris O’Shea, chief executive of Centrica, parent company of British Gas said: “We know that some prepayment customers are self-disconnecting and not coming forward for help, so we have reviewed our policies to do more to target support at this group.
“As a responsible business we are doing all we can to support our customers during this crisis – our work with the British Gas Energy Trust provides grants and money advice services.”
It comes as Citizens Advice reported last week that over three million Brits ran out of credit on prepayment meters last year because they couldn’t afford to top up.
It also found more than 2million people were being disconnected at least once a month.
Plus, 19% of those cut off in the past year then spent at least 24 hours without gas or electricity.
What help can I get if I’m struggling?
Millions of households started receiving a £400 energy bill discount from October 1.
Households will have already received a £66 energy bill discount in October, November and £67 in December.
There will also be a payment worth £67 in January, February and March.
If you’re on a prepayment meter, you might be able to get a one-off voucher to top up.
The fuel voucher scheme comes via the Fuel Bank Foundation charity, and it’s offered through a range of organisations, like food banks and Citizens Advice.
The best place to start is to find somewhere which can offer you a fuel voucher by asking your local council – you can find yours via gov.uk by searching your postcode.
Between November and March 2023, a £300 one-off “Pensioner Cost of Living Payment” started being paid out to eight million households.
It is being given to those who already get the winter fuel payment – which is worth between £100 and £300 for those over state pension age.
Millions of households have also started to get the £150 Warm Home Discount between December and March 2023.
Check out more energy bill help you can claim, worth as much as £3,435 a year.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk