Eleven energy firms have collapsed since the start of September as a result of the soaring global prices of wholesale gas.
During the latest edition of the Martin Lewis Money Show Live, one concerned energy customer, whose supplier has gone bust, wrote in to ask about the impact this will have on her Warm Home Discount, which gives eligible customers £140 off their winter fuel bills.
Janet wrote: “Now Pure Planet has gone bust, do I have to apply to the new supplier for the Warm Home Discount or will it be automatically transferred? It’s more important than ever that I don’t miss out.”
Martin explained how if your energy firm goes bust you will automatically be moved to a new supplier on the price cap rate, so “do nothing” in terms of switching elsewhere until that’s sorted and that any credit on your account is protected.
However, when it comes to the UK Government Warm Home Discount Scheme, he offered crucial advice.
He said: “You will need to apply at the new supplier for it again and eligibility criteria can be different.
“As long as it’s a big enough firm and it’s almost certainly they [Ofgem] will put you to a big enough firm to offer Warm Home Discount.
“If you’re on the guaranteed element of Pension Credit, you’ll get the Warm Home Discount, but the criteria for what counts as ‘lower income’ does vary firm by firm, so you might have qualified before and you might not now - my fingers are crossed that you will though, but definitely go and apply as soon as possible.”
Am I eligible for he Warm Home Discount?
There are two ways to qualify for the Warm Home Discount Scheme:
- You get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit - known as the ‘core group’
- You’re on a low income and meet your energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme - known as the ‘broader group’
How you apply for the Warm Home Discount Scheme depends on how you qualify for the discount.
Pre-pay or pay-as-you-go meters
You can still qualify for the discount if you use a pre-pay or pay-as-you-go electricity meter.
Your electricity supplier can tell you how you will get the discount if you’re eligible, for example a voucher you can use to top up your meter.
How to apply
Your electricity supplier decides who can get the discount.
The number of discounts suppliers can give is limited. Check with your supplier as early as possible to see if you’re eligible and how to apply - check with them even if you were eligible for a discount last year.
Your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill by March 31, 2022.
Energy suppliers
The DWP has confirmed that the following suppliers are part of the scheme in winter 2021 to 2022.
- Affect Energy
- Atlantic
- Boost
- Bristol Energy - only if you’re eligible for the ‘core group’
- British Gas
- British Gas Evolve (formerly British Gas X)
- Bulb Energy
- Co-op Energy
- E (Gas and Electricity)
- E.ON
- E.ON Next
- Ebico
- ESB Energy
- Ecotricity - only if you’re eligible for the ‘core group’
- EDF Energy
- Green Energy UK (GEUK)
- Green Network Energy
- Green Star Energy -
- iSupply Energy
- London Power
- Lumo - see OVO
- M&S Energy
- Nabuh Energy
- Octopus Energy
- Outfox The Market
- OVO
- Rebel Energy
- Sainsbury’s Energy
- Scottish Gas
- Scottish Hydro
- ScottishPower
- Shell Energy
- So Energy
- Southern Electric
- SSE
- Swalec
- Together Energy
- Utilita
- Utility Warehouse
For more information about the Warm Home Discount Scheme for winter 2021/22, visit the GOV.UK website here.
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