Pensioners can get £140 off their heating bill through Pension Credit | Personal Finance | Finance

Energy costs have surged in recent months, leaving many people struggling to keep their homes heated. Pensioners can be especially vulnerable to steep heating costs, but could get some help via the Warm Home Discount scheme.

The Warm Home Discount is a benefit which is paid to people who need financial support in heating their home.

It is a £140 discount and this sum can be taken off the eligible person’s electricity bill.

The scheme is still open for the winter of 2021/22 and claimants could get their discount by March.

It may also be possible to receive the discount on a gas bill instead if someone receives electricity and gas from the same supplier.

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To get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, someone must have an income of less than £177.10 a week, or £270.30 a week for a couple.

Successful applicants for Pension Credit will then see their income topped up to those amounts, and also become eligible for the Warm Home Discount.

The income of Pension Credit applicants is assessed to determine whether they are eligible, but it is believed there could be as many as one million people who could be entitled some support through Pension Credit but have not yet claimed it.

It may well be worth people checking if they qualify for Pension Credit and could therefore get the Warm Home Discount as well.

This could allow people born on or before September 26, 1955 to get between £100 and £300 to help pay their heating bills.

People who receive the state pension or another social security benefit should automatically receive their Winter Fuel Payment each winter.

Pension Credit recipients may also be able to claim the Cold Weather Payment, which provides £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather between November 1 and March 31 each winter.

The amount will be paid out if the temperature in someone’s area is recorded or forecast as zero degrees celsius or lower for seven straight days.