Energy bill discount scheme 2022: Who in Sheffield is eligible for new £400 fuel rebate & how to receive it?

A number of people up and down Sheffield are currently cash-strapped as a result of the crippling cost of living crisis.

Fuel prices have reached record highs, the cost of a weekly grocery shop is increasing by the day and energy bills are continuing to skyrocket.

The government has introduced various schemes and rebates in an attempt to alleviate these concerns, such as the council tax rebate which was issued from April 2021.

Now officials are introducing further measures to ease the pressure on Sheffielder’s bank accounts - an energy bill discount scheme.

Here is everything you need to know about the scheme; such as what it is, how much is payment and who in Sheffield is eligible for the support.

What is the energy bill discount scheme?

The energy bill discount scheme is a way for the government to try and reduce the stress and costs associated with paying energy bills.

Millions of households - including many in Sheffield and Yorkshire - will receive a non-repayable discount on their energy bills this winter.

The payment is administered by energy suppliers, who wish to ensure households receive adequate financial support towards the turn of the year.

How much is the payment?

The total payment amounts to a £400 discount to help with the cost of energy.

It will be split into two different monthly payments of £66, as well as four additional lots of £67 over a six month period.

How and when will the energy bill discount be paid?

As it is in fact a discount and not a rebate, you will not receive the support from this scheme directly into your bank account and therefore you will not be asked for personal payment details at any stage - please be aware of any scams.

If you pay your energy bills via direct debit, you will receive the support from the energy bill discount scheme automatically via your monthly bills, which should see a reduction each month until March 2023.

The two £66 price reductions will start in October heading into November, with the following £67 discounts slashed off your bills from January 2023 into March.

Smart prepayment meter customers will see the discount credited directly to their smart prepayment meters in the first week of each of the six months.

Standard credit and payment card customers will see the Energy Bill discount automatically applied as a credit to standard credit customers’ accounts in the first week of each month of EBSS delivery, with the credit appearing as it would if the customer had made a payment.

Whilst for those who are traditional prepayment meter customers will be accredited with EBSS energy bill discount vouchers or Special Action Messages (SAMs) in the first week of each month.

These will be issued via an SMS text message, email or via post - redeemable at their usual top-up point.

Please note the following: the non-repayable discount will still be paid monthly, even if you pay your energy bills monthly, quarterly or have an associated payment card.

If a person’s housing circumstances change at any point over the course of the designated six month period, you will still benefit from the relevant portion of the £400 discount.

Who in Sheffield is eligible for the scheme?

Millions and millions of households throughout the United Kingdom will be eligible for the energy bill benefit.

The winter discount will be made available to as many domestic electricity customers as possible, totally regardless of which energy supplier they are affiliated with and which payment method they use.

This also applies to students and other tenants renting properties with domestic electricity contracts from landlords where fixed energy costs are included in rental charges.

In these circumstances, landlords who resell energy to their tenants should pass the discounted payments on appropriately, in line with Ofgem rules to protect tenants.

For further details and information, please visit the official government website.

What if I am not covered by the scheme?

Government officials have warned that there will be one-percent of households that can not be reached through the energy bill discount scheme.

This includes those who do not have a domestic electricity meter or a direct account with a supplier, such as park home residencies.

Additional details about further support for these households, such as how and when these Sheffield households can access the support will be revealed in Autumn 2022.