Nearly 3 million more families would be eligible to receive the £150 Warm Home Discount next winter under new proposals to help people with their energy bills

I think that's a possibility now. As I understand it, The Government uses data from the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) to identify eligible households for the Warm Home Discount. The VOA matches property data with Tax Credit and means-tested benefits data.

Whitewavemark2

Much fairer than giving it to many elderly who don’t need it - that is if that is how the scheme will work.

This is currently in addition to WFA for those on PC and other eligible mean-tested benefits. It (£125) goes straight to the electricity account of the eligible person. I wonder if it would make sense to roll these into one payment made though the energy company?

There are also Cold Weather Payments (£25). As these are triggered by very low temperatures over 7 days it means only the eligible people in the eligible areas get it so it would be hard to roll-up with the others.

The standing charge is very unfair IMO. It means that people have no way of not paying an energy bill, even when they switch everything off, or go away.

1 in 5 families OP? That’s one heck of a lot of people. I await the flesh on the bones.

I'm encouraged by the possibilty of a zero standing charge option. It would need to be an option only so as not disadvantage those who use a lot of energy running equipment for health needs. But at last, it's recognising that some people are paying more on standing charges than on the energy component of a bill.

We have Martin Lewis to thank for his campaigning on this.

Feeling very encouraged

Thank you for flagging this up. Here's the Press Release. Plenty of encouraging things in there.

... as the government consults on proposals to offer more support to consumers across the country.

I noticed:

• driving forward with pro-consumer reforms:

• challenging unlawful back billing;
• taking action on inaccurate bills
• driving the smart meter rollout
• giving every family the option of a zero standing charge tariff, so they have more choice in how they pay for their energy
• ensuring compensation for wrongful installation of prepayment meters

* In addition, government has also moved quickly to protect working people from wider cost of living pressures ...

www.gov.uk/government/news/extra-energy-bill-support-for-the-country

Whitewavemark2

Much fairer than giving it to many elderly who don’t need it - that is if that is how the scheme will work.

Agreed. I would much rather see help go to worse off families than better off pensioners. I wonder whether this will stop the complaints from those who say they are only concerned about poorer older people and not themselves?

Much fairer than giving it to many elderly who don’t need it - that is if that is how the scheme will work.

That sounds very promising indeed.