ScottishPower offers funds to DWP claimants to help with energy bills – are you eligible? | Personal Finance | Finance
To qualify for the support, Britons must claim certain Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits. These benefits include Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance (JSA), Pension Credit, or Employment and Support Allowance. Britons could also qualify if there is a “special circumstance” which could make them eligible.
An example is if they have experienced an income reduction due to illness.
ScottishPower state that all applications will be assessed to see if a person is eligible.
ScottishPower also stated that the terms and conditions for the Hardship Fund are subject to change.
The Hardship Fund can help Britons by clearing or reducing arrears or by crediting a customer’s ScottishPower energy account.
READ MORE: State pension set to rise next year but 520,000 people will miss out
The amount a person will receive is dependent on their circumstance.
To find out if a person is eligible, people must have previously contacted a debt agency charity such as StepChange.
StepChange can first advise on how a person can manage their debts and can help a person apply through the online form if the charity believes they are eligible.
To access the help, people will need to make their application to Sigma Connected Support.
DON’T MISS
People can also apply by email after downloading the application form on Sigma Connected Support’s website.
Several energy companies are offering support funds to help those who are unable to pay.
These include British Gas and Octopus Energy.
Currently, there are two schemes available which are operated by the British Gas Energy Trust.
One of these schemes is exclusively open to customers while the other is available to non-customers.
For non-customers, the “Individuals and families fund” gives out up to £1,500 in support for eligible households.
Octopus Energy has its Octo Assist fund – additional support it offers to its own customers – from £2.5million to £7million.
