1.4m pensioners could be missing out on vital £140 discount on their energy bills

OVER A MILLION PENSIONERS COULD BE MISSING OUT ON VITAL £140 DISCOUNT ON THEIR ENERGY BILLS

• 1.3 million over 65-year-olds who could be eligible for Pension Credit are missing out on vital financial support on their energy bills

• Over 100,000 elderly customers are potentially missing out on Warm Homes Discount due to being with an energy supplier which isn’t signed up to the scheme

• More than a third of elderly people on low incomes were forced to ration their energy use last winter to afford their energy bills

23^rd September 2019 – An estimated 1.4 million pensioners are potentially missing out on £140 discount on their energy bills from the Warm Homes Discount (WHD), according to research from comparethemarket.com.

The WHD scheme requires participating domestic energy suppliers to provide support to those who are in, or at risk of, fuel poverty. According to figures from Ofgem and the Department for Work and Pensions 1,214,571 customers were provided with the rebate last year. However, 1,343,450 over 65-year-olds were eligible for the discount, suggesting that over 100,000 people are with suppliers who are not signed up to the scheme. Furthermore, it is estimated that 1.3 million pensioners may be entitled to Pension Credit but do not claim it meaning that millions of pensioners on low incomes could be missing out on vital discounts.

The WHD is available to people who are in receipt of the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, who have reached the state pension age and live on a weekly income of less than £167.25 for a single person or £255.25 for a couple.

Falling temperatures and rising energy prices are placing a significant financial burden on elderly people. According to research by comparethemarket.com, more than one in five (23%) over 65-year-olds rationed their energy usage last winter in order to afford their energy bills – equating to 2.7 million people nationwide*. These figures become starker when looking at pensioners on lower incomes. More than a third (35%) of over 65-year-olds who earn less that £21,000 per year rationed their energy usage last winter.

comparethemarket.com warns that for pensioners to receive the WHD it is vital that they are aware that only 14 suppliers are currently offer it to their customers. The suppliers that currently provide it are; Bristol Energy, British Gas, Coop Energy, Economy Energy, EDF Energy, EON Energy, Extra Energy, First Utility, Fischer Energy, Flow Energy, Npower Group, Our Power, OVO Energy, Scottish Power, Spark Energy, SSE Energy, Utilita and Utility Energy.

Peter Earl, Head of Energy at comparethemarket.com, said:           

“The Warm Homes Discount is a lifeline for those elderly people who will struggle to afford to heat their homes this winter. Will the Beast from the East make a reappearance this winter? We cannot be sure, but with a worrying number of pensioners rationing their heating in order to cut down costs, it is vital that we raise awareness of the options available to them when they need it most. For starters, not all energy suppliers offer the discount. It is very important that energy customers eligible for the WHD regularly shop around and switch tariff or supplier, which is a tried and tested way for people to save money and secure a good deal.”