Households in the UK are being urged to claim £400 to help with energy bills.
Many customers with prepayment meters have not yet redeemed vouchers, which are only valid for 90 days, to help with soaring bills, according to the BBC.
From the beginning of October, people and families should have begun to receive the first instalment of the government's Energy Bill Support Scheme. But figures from in-store payment company PayPoint revealed that only half of the expected value had been redeemed.
READ MORE: Millions to get an extra £300 cost of living payment from Tuesday
PayPoint told BBC News that it expected to process 800,000 vouchers in October, worth a total of £52.8m. However, the business said only £27m had been redeemed.
Many people on money saving websites have complained of delays in receiving the vouchers. The mild weather may also have played a role, with customers holding on until it gets colder to redeem them.
The Energy Bill Support Scheme was first announced by government in May and applies across England, Scotland and Wales.
Under the scheme, everyone's energy bill will be cut by £400. This will be applied over six months, with a reduction of £66 in October and November, and £67 every month between December and March 2023.
For customers who have a traditional prepayment meter, which requires topping up via a key or card in a local newsagent or Post Office, the help with energy bills comes in the form of a voucher.
Anyone on a traditional prepayment meter, which is topped up at a shop, should receive vouchers in the post from their suppliers. The vouchers are redeemable at Post Office or PayPoint stores, where customers usually top up. For most suppliers, the voucher should arrive in the post by 17th of each month and is only valid for 90 days.
A spokesperson for the Department for Business said that the "government has worked quickly to deliver the Energy Bills Support Scheme, helping a broad range of households struggling with energy bills this winter including £1,200 direct payments being made to vulnerable households."
They are calling on customers to have their credit applied to their meter as soon as possible so that they can benefit from the scheme.
If you have not received a voucher, but believe you should have, you should contact your supplier directly.
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
READ NEXT:
Lidl announces big change to milk
Escape to the Chateau viewers 'heartbroken' minutes into new Channel 4 show
Gogglebox stars Pete and Sophie's home hides incredible 'illusion' we don't see on TV
Man's unsuspecting Google screenshot melts people's hearts on Twitter
