Customers of failed suppliers still have time to apply for £140 Warm Home Discount

· More than two million energy customers have been displaced from failed suppliers, but among them are eligible consumers who still have time to re-apply for the Warm Home Discount from their new provider[1] 

· ‘First come, first served’ applications remain open with the six major suppliers that have taken on displaced customers, reveals analysis by Uswitch.com  

· Many other suppliers are also still open to applications, including Ovo Energy, SSE, and Scottish Power

· One supplier scheme with So Energy is yet to open, though applications are due to begin this month

· Despite flaws to the scheme, Uswitch is calling on customers to do their research and apply 

· Households can visit Uswitch’s Warm Home Discount guide to find out more 

Customers eligible for the £140 Warm Home Discount still have time to apply, including those among the two million who have been with a recently failed supplier[1], according to Uswitch.com, the comparison and switching service. 

The Warm Home Discount aims to reduce fuel poverty by providing low-income households with a £140 discount on their energy bills[2]. The government is proposing to increase the discount to £150 from 2022[3].

Elderly people on low incomes who receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit automatically receive the discount. However, people on income support or other allowances - who typically make up the broader group - have to apply to their participating energy supplier in order to access the money. 

With 15 suppliers having exited the market in 2021, some eligible households may be at risk of missing out on the discount if they forget to re-apply with their new supplier. 

Uswitch research shows there is still time to apply, as all the major providers who have taken on displaced customers this year are still open to applications[1].

These suppliers are British Gas, British Gas Evolve, EDF Energy, E.ON Next, Octopus Energy and Shell Energy[4].

New British Gas customers who were accepted onto their former supplier’s Warm Home Discount scheme as part of the Broader Group will be automatically added to British Gas’ scheme. However, displaced customers with other suppliers will need to re-apply once they receive their new customer number[1].

Many other suppliers that operated the scheme last year are also still open to applications, including Ovo Energy, SSE, Scottish Power, and others[1].

Utilita remains the only supplier to have already closed applications, while So Energy has yet to open theirs[1]. However, So Energy says its applications will open this month. 

Previous Uswitch research found there is a widespread lack of knowledge about the scheme, leading many to miss out. Nearly a third of people (32%) who could be eligible for the discount did not know the scheme existed[5]. 

Last year, the Government pledged to consult on providing automatic rebates to people in fuel poverty, and Uswitch called on ministers to implement this process as soon as possible[6]. 

In the meantime, anyone who believes they are eligible should apply as soon as they can, as the scheme is operated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. There is a fixed pot of money to be distributed, which this year has risen with inflation from £351 million to £357 million[6]. Qualifying applicants will have their rebates paid by March 31, 2022. 

Justina Miltienyte, energy policy expert at Uswitch.com, said: “Eligible consumers are in danger of falling through the cracks if their supplier goes bust and they are moved to another provider.

“The £140 may not be enough to balance out rising energy prices, but it will still be a lifeline to many people on low incomes this year.

“Thankfully, Warm Home Discount applications are still open with almost all the suppliers which were involved last year. This includes all the major providers who have taken on customers from those that have exited the market. 

“If you believe you are eligible for the discount, we recommend that you apply for it through your supplier as soon as possible. Even if you applied with an energy company which has since gone bust and moved to a new provider, we recommend that you re-apply with the new supplier so you do not miss out.” 

Find out how you could save with Uswitch here.