Nottingham City Council are urging citizens to find out if they are eligible for the Warm Homes Discount as it’s estimated that up to £1m is not being claimed by qualifying households.

The Warm Homes Discount scheme offers a £140 energy bill discount to low income households. Offered by energy suppliers, people are being encouraged to apply now  as while many schemes are now open, they operate on a first-come, first-served basis, and may be closing early December.

People may be eligible if they or a member of their household receives employment-related benefits, are over 65, or have a disability; if they live with a child under 18; or if they spend a significant portion of their income on energy bills. Residents who receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit will once again qualify automatically for the discount. They should receive information from the Department for Work and Pensions via the post later this autumn.

Eligibility criteria will vary among different suppliers and all citizens who fall into the above categories and are not currently claiming the discount are being urged to contact their supplier.

Councillor Sally Longford, Portfolio Holder for Energy and Environment, said: “Cold homes are not just detrimental to people’s physical health, but can increase the risk of mental health problems and impact on children’s development. Energy bills can make up a significant part of household expenditure especially in the winter and under-heating is a problem for many households.

“£140 will really help families pay for the extra heat needed to ensure that homes are sufficiently healthy. Once suppliers reach their target number of applications, they often close schemes abruptly so we really do urge people to act fast.”

Find out more about local agencies that help with fuel bills and concerns about cold homes https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/affordablewarmth or call 0115 876 3537

Find out more about Warm Home Discount https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/faqs-warm-home-discount-scheme

For further advice to reduce your energy bills and improve your home efficiency, please visit https://www.simpleenergyadvice.org.uk/