Octopus Energy has confirmed it will extend its £200 in energy bill support following the Government's announcement regarding the Winter Fuel Payment.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said last month that the payment for pensioners will now be means-tested with claimants needing to be on benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions.
In response, the energy firm is loosening the eligibility criteria for its customer support scheme for older households by extending its £30million Octo Assist Fund.
As part of Octopus Energy's latest intervention, the company is allowing pensioners who are unable to get Pension Credit to claim new funding.
Older people who are eligible can claim thousands of discretionary credits of £50, £100 and £200 which can be used to slash energy costs.
This comes ahead of an expected hike to Ofgem's energy price cap with bills expected to rise once again in the winter months.
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The Winter Fuel Payment was intended to help people who have reached state pension age with the cost of heating in the winter
GETTYHere is a full list of the other support attached the Octo Assist Fund from Octopus Energy:
- Written, phone or online applications available to reach as many people as possible
- Free benefit and pension credit checks to make sure claimants are not losing on a cash boost
- A team of Octopus specialists available to call elderly relatives with energy bill support if they are a customer.
Greg Jackson, the founder of Octopus Energy Group, outlined why he believes it is important for the business to step up following the latest developments regarding the Winter Fuel Payment.
He explained: "At times like this, we can’t expect the government to do everything - companies need to work hard on affordability too.
"That’s why we’ve expanded our Octo Assist fund to introduce extra support for the pensioners who need it most.
"There’s a lot of government and other support for pensioners but many don’t realise it - government data shows one in three pensioners eligible for Pension Credits are not claiming, so we’re training our team to help with this too."
Those looking to claim the Winter Fuel Payment are urged to check their eligibility for Pension Credit which is the primary DWP benefit for pensioners on low income.
Claimants in receipt of this payment will see their retirement income topped up to £218.15 if they are single or £332.95 if they have a partner.
LATEST DEVLOPMENTS:
The energy firm is continuing its support for older customers
OCTOPUS ENERGYHere is a full list of the support schemes available to customers from Octopus Energy:
- Electric blankets: Free electric blankets for customers, resulting in an average winter saving of £150 per household, with 60,000 distributed so far
- Heat loss cameras: Loaning thermal imaging cameras to help customers identify and fix draughts, reducing their energy usage
- Energy Helpers: Providing tailored in-person energy-saving advice through the ‘Energy Helpers’ scheme, with over 300,000 homes visited so far
- Saving Sessions: Running ‘Saving Sessions’ to help customers save money by using less energy during peak periods, with over 2 million participants and £10 million in savings paid out over the last two winters
