Do you know about the warm home discount scheme?

It offers up to £140 off electricity bills for people in financial hardship.

It is a scheme put together by the government and the electricity companies.

Some pensioners will get the warm home discount automatically

If you or your partner were receiving Pension Credit on 12th July 2015 and your supplier is part of the scheme you should get the discount automatically. The Government will write to everyone who benefits this autumn. If you don't get a letter by Christmas Day but think you qualify contact the government's Warm Home Discount Team on 0345 603 9439.

You have to be responsible for paying the electricity bill. For example a pensioner living with their family and where the family pay the electricity bill for the whole household would not benefit from the scheme

Other people in financial hardship can also benefit

Each electricity supplier has their own rules about who qualifies for this help. Here are a few examples of who may qualify:

• People in receipt of income related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), or Income-based Job Seeker's Allowance (JSA).
• Households with a gross annual income of less than £16,190.

If you could benefit you have to apply for the discount - you can do this by either phoning your energy company or going to their website. The funds are limited and the discount is offered on a first come first served basis, so you need to get your application in early.

Bills and Pre-payment

It does not matter whether you pay for your electricity by bill or by prepayment meter. If you pay by bill the discount will be knocked off your electricity bill. If you are a prepayment customer you should get a voucher that you can use to top-up your meter.

The government's helpline

You can contact the Warm Home Discount Scheme Helpline (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) on 0845 603 9439 or look at this website www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme/what-youll-get for more information.

How else can I reduce my energy bills?

You can check if you are on the cheapest possible energy tariff - some people can save up to £200 a year by switching to a better energy deal.

You can do a comparison on-line - for more information on how to do this go to www.goenergyshopping.co.uk/ or contact any of the accredited switching organisations. You will need to have details of your present energy tariff and how much energy you are using - this should be on your last energy bill.

Live in Rugby borough?

Rugby residents can contact the Sustainable Homes Officer on 01788 533830 if they want any further information or advice about their energy bills.

Praise where praise is due

Unlike the government's dodgy dossier production team we will say where we got all this information from. Most of this webpage is lifted from a helpful flyer produced by Rugby Borough Council.