One month warning ahead of key benefit deadline as 760,000 risk missing out on £150 energy bill discount --[Reported by Umva mag]

AROUND 760,000 pensioners are at risk of missing out on this loophole that could snag a £150 deduction on their energy bills. The deadline for the discount is fast approaching to get The Warm Home Discount (WHD) which is a scheme for those receiving specific benefits. GettyThe Warm Home Discount could knock £150 off your winter bills this Christmas[/caption] In the vast majority of cases, you receive the discount automatically and don’t need to apply. The discount is open to those in receipt of certain benefits including Universal Credit, Income Support and Housing Benefit. The £150 reduction is also available to thousands on pension credit. To qualify, you need to claim either the guaranteed credit element of pension credit or one of the below benefits: Income support Income based jobseeker’s allowance Income related employment and support allowance Housing benefit Universal Credit Child tax credit Working tax credits The “savings credit” part of pension credit If you weren’t claiming any of the above benefits on August 11, 2024, you won’t be eligible for the discount this winter. The Government also assesses your energy costs based on the type, age and size of your property. However, the August 11 qualifying date does not apply if you are receiving the guarantee credit element of pension credit. This is because you can backdate pension credit claims by up to three months. But, that does mean you will have to launch your pension credit claim by the end of Sunday, November 10, and then successfully backdate it to cover the August 11 Warm Home Discount qualifying date. Fail to do this and you will miss out on the £150 discount this year. How and when is the WHD paid? The discount is usually applied between October and March, typically as a credit on your account depending on how you pay for your energy. The £150 is usually deducted from your electricity bill, but you can also get the money off your gas bill if your supplier provides both your gas and electricity. You should get in touch with your energy supplier to ask if they will give you a discount on your gas bill. If you are a direct debit customer or smart prepayment meter customer, you should get the £150 automatically added as credit on your account. Traditional prepayment meter customers are sent top-up vouchers by post, email or text. You may also receive a cheque. You have 90 days to redeem any vouchers, but your supplier can reissue you one if it gets lost or expires. Any vouchers have to be redeemed at your nearest Post Office branch or PayPoint shop. What is pension credit and who is eligible? Pension credit is a government benefit designed to top up your weekly income if you are a state pensioner with low earnings. The current state pension age is 66. There are two parts to the benefit – Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit. Guarantee credit tops up your weekly income to £218.15 if you are single or your joint weekly income to £332.95 if you have a partner. Savings credit is extra money you get if you have some savings or your income is above the basic full state pension amount – £169.50. Savings credit is only available to people who reached state pension age before April 6, 2016. Usually, you only qualify for pension credit if your income is below the £218.15 or £332.95 thresholds. However, you can sometimes be eligible for savings credit or guarantee credit depending on your circumstances. For example, if you are suffering from a severe disability and claiming Attendance Allowance, as well as other benefits, you can get an extra £81.50 a week. Meanwhile, you can get either £66.29 a week or £76.79 a week for each child you’re responsible and caring for. The rules behind who qualifies for pension credit can be complicated, so the best thing to do is just check. You can do this by using the Government’s pension credit calculator on its website. Or, you can call the Pension Service helpline on 0800 99 1234 from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Those in Northern Ireland have to call the Pension Centre on 0808 100 6165 from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday. It might be worth a visit to your local Citizens Advice branch too – its staff should be able to offer you help for free. One additional and major perk of pension credit is that it is known as a “gateway” benefit in that it opens up a host of other freebies and perks. This includes a free TV licence worth £169.50 a year if you are 75 or over and council tax discounts. And of course, if you are on the guarantee credit part of pension credit, you also qualify for the Warm Home Discount. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk. Plus, you can join o

AROUND 760,000 pensioners are at risk of missing out on this loophole that could snag a £150 deduction on their energy bills.

The deadline for the discount is fast approaching to get The Warm Home Discount (WHD) which is a scheme for those receiving specific benefits.

Getty

The Warm Home Discount could knock £150 off your winter bills this Christmas[/caption]

In the vast majority of cases, you receive the discount automatically and don’t need to apply.

The discount is open to those in receipt of certain benefits including Universal Credit, Income Support and Housing Benefit.

The £150 reduction is also available to thousands on pension credit.

To qualify, you need to claim either the guaranteed credit element of pension credit or one of the below benefits:

• Income support
• Income based jobseeker’s allowance
• Income related employment and support allowance
• Housing benefit
• Universal Credit
• Child tax credit
• Working tax credits
• The “savings credit” part of pension credit

If you weren’t claiming any of the above benefits on August 11, 2024, you won’t be eligible for the discount this winter.

The Government also assesses your energy costs based on the type, age and size of your property.

However, the August 11 qualifying date does not apply if you are receiving the guarantee credit element of pension credit.

This is because you can backdate pension credit claims by up to three months.

But, that does mean you will have to launch your pension credit claim by the end of Sunday, November 10, and then successfully backdate it to cover the August 11 Warm Home Discount qualifying date.

Fail to do this and you will miss out on the £150 discount this year.

How and when is the WHD paid?

The discount is usually applied between October and March, typically as a credit on your account depending on how you pay for your energy.

The £150 is usually deducted from your electricity bill, but you can also get the money off your gas bill if your supplier provides both your gas and electricity.

You should get in touch with your energy supplier to ask if they will give you a discount on your gas bill.

If you are a direct debit customer or smart prepayment meter customer, you should get the £150 automatically added as credit on your account.

Traditional prepayment meter customers are sent top-up vouchers by post, email or text. You may also receive a cheque.

You have 90 days to redeem any vouchers, but your supplier can reissue you one if it gets lost or expires.

Any vouchers have to be redeemed at your nearest Post Office branch or PayPoint shop.

What is pension credit and who is eligible?

Pension credit is a government benefit designed to top up your weekly income if you are a state pensioner with low earnings.

The current state pension age is 66.

There are two parts to the benefit – Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit.

Guarantee credit tops up your weekly income to £218.15 if you are single or your joint weekly income to £332.95 if you have a partner.

Savings credit is extra money you get if you have some savings or your income is above the basic full state pension amount – £169.50.

Savings credit is only available to people who reached state pension age before April 6, 2016.

Usually, you only qualify for pension credit if your income is below the £218.15 or £332.95 thresholds.

However, you can sometimes be eligible for savings credit or guarantee credit depending on your circumstances.

For example, if you are suffering from a severe disability and claiming Attendance Allowance, as well as other benefits, you can get an extra £81.50 a week.

Meanwhile, you can get either £66.29 a week or £76.79 a week for each child you’re responsible and caring for.

The rules behind who qualifies for pension credit can be complicated, so the best thing to do is just check.

You can do this by using the Government’s pension credit calculator on its website.

Or, you can call the Pension Service helpline on 0800 99 1234 from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

Those in Northern Ireland have to call the Pension Centre on 0808 100 6165 from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday.

It might be worth a visit to your local Citizens Advice branch too – its staff should be able to offer you help for free.

One additional and major perk of pension credit is that it is known as a “gateway” benefit in that it opens up a host of other freebies and perks.

This includes a free TV licence worth £169.50 a year if you are 75 or over and council tax discounts.

And of course, if you are on the guarantee credit part of pension credit, you also qualify for the Warm Home Discount.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

The following news has been carefully analyzed, curated, and compiled by Umva Mag from a diverse range of people, sources, and reputable platforms. Our editorial team strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information we provide. By combining insights from multiple perspectives, we aim to offer a well-rounded and comprehensive understanding of the events and stories that shape our world. Umva Mag values transparency, accountability, and journalistic integrity, ensuring that each piece of content is delivered with the utmost professionalism.

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