- Over 700,000 households miss out on £300 million in energy bill assistance
- Only 200,000 applications submitted by the deadline
- Factors contributing to low uptake include timing, self-identification of eligibility, and complex application process
More than 700,000 British households have lost out on £300 million in energy bill assistance.
These are residences in locations such as park homes and houseboats that did not have an energy provider to automatically apply for a one-time £400 payment.
In February, the government estimated that more than 900,000 eligible households existed.
However, only about 200,000 applications were submitted by the May 31 deadline.
The government announced last year that all households would receive a £400 discount on their winter energy bills. For households that pay their expenses via direct debit, the assistance was provided monthly from October to March.
This year, the government introduced the £400 Energy Bill Support Scheme Alternative Funding for those with alternative energy systems.
Matt Cole from the Fuel Bank Foundation stated that it was disappointing that so many people had lost out and that he believed this was due to a variety of factors.
“The launch of the scheme in the spring of this year as opposed to before the winter, when it was most needed, the reliance on families to self-identify their eligibility as opposed to receiving it automatically, and the somewhat complicated process for claiming assistance will have all contributed.”
The government reported spending over £50 million “supporting 130,000 households without a domestic energy provider.”
This data indicates that slightly more than £300 million of the possible £360 million in the United Kingdom was not claimed by the deadline.
Mark, who resides on a narrowboat, applied on the government’s website or by calling a helpline because he believed he was qualified.
“Many people [on canal boats] attempted to submit a claim for it, but we hit a roadblock when it asked, ‘Do you reside in a marina or are you off the grid?’
“As soon as you clicked ‘off-grid,’ you were taken to a window that read ‘you are not eligible at this time.'”
Mark uses three and a half sacks of coal per week during the winter for his multi-fuel stove. He had been paying approximately £9 per container, but the price nearly doubled last winter.
“The £400 payment would have been of tremendous assistance. That money had to come from somewhere, so it had to come from my budget or reserves.
It would have simplified my winter and let me spend more with my grandchildren.
A government spokesperson stated, “We spent billions to safeguard families when energy prices rose during the winter, covering nearly fifty percent of the average household’s energy bill.
Since their zenith, wholesale energy prices have decreased by more than two-thirds, resulting in a continuing decline in costs.
“We are urging councils to expedite the processing of applications and completion of final checks to ensure that all eligible individuals receive the necessary assistance.”
The government advised individuals who missed the application deadline to access its Help for Households page.
Carol resides in a mobile home estate southeast of Runcorn. The application process was simple, but she had to apply three or four times since she was refused.
“We were denied, I cannot recall how many times. I persisted, refusing to give up. Because I reasoned, “Why should I surrender?” I have worked my entire existence and contributed to the system.
“[The £400] was crucial because 99.9% of the individuals on these sites are retired, and many of them have only a basic pension or a modest supplement.
However, it’s not going very far because food and transport prices have increased, so the £400 was a godsend.
47,400 park home households out of 203,558 who applied for the £400 grant were the highest single group.
Tenants in private housing had the highest rejection and cancellation rates, with 47% of their applications being denied. People’s applications were denied if they had already received assistance, submitted a duplicate application, or were ineligible.
The Office for National Statistics estimated that approximately 137,000 occupants of care homes in England pay for some or all of their care; these individuals were eligible to apply for the support.
There were just under 22,000 applications from care facility households across the United Kingdom.
