The scheme is available for people receiving: Contact the jobcentre, or the pension service if you’re receiving pension credits, with the details of who you owe money to and how much, your customer reference number on bills, and your National Insurance number to arrange. This money will then go towards paying off your ongoing energy use, as well as any debts you’ve racked up. The Department for Work and Pensions will agree a sum that can be taken from your benefit payments each month, usually around five per cent, and be paid directly to your supplier. If you’re on certain benefits, and are struggling to pay your energy bills, it may be possible to pay your bills directly from your benefit payments through the fuel direct scheme. It’s not available to everyone though, but charities like StepChange can help guide you through the process if you’re eligible. The debt respite scheme is also available for people struggling, which sees your debts put on hold for up to 60 days, where creditors can’t chase you for money or add interest or fees to your debt. However, it’s important to know exactly when this holiday will end as missing payments afterwards could see your supplier chase you for money, and might put you at risk of having a prepayment metre installed or even your supply cut off. Discussing your situation with your supplier, and being open and honest about your means, any outgoings that you might not have budgeted for such as emergency repairs, and why you’re not able to meet those payments could see your supplier agree to a short break where you don’t need to make payments. If you have no spare money to set up a payment plan, a payment break or payment holiday may be an option. Once all of this has been calculated, fixed instalments over a set period of time will be suggested to help you pay what you can afford, although it’s a good idea to keep sending readings from your gas and electricity meters to make sure your bill is accurate and you’re not overpaying. The plan will look at what you owe, what you can afford to pay based on your income, outgoings, and any other debts, and how much energy you’re likely to use based on your past usage. Your supplier has to help you come to a solution to pay your bills, and so should agree to putting you on a payment plan if you request it, or tell them that you’re unable to pay. Some suppliers also have hardship funds or grants that can be given out to those in need, and the cash could be enough to cover your bill. Although it may sound counterintuitive, letting them know is a good starting point as there are different payment plans that can be discussed to ensure you pay at least part of what you owe, allowing your supply to remain intact.
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The first thing you need to do if you’re genuinely concerned about being able to pay your bill in full is to contact your supplier. READ MORE: Work out how much more you could be paying for energy with this calculator First steps The Manchester Evening News looked at steps customers can take to pay at least part of their bills, and how you can avoid having your energy supply shut off. However, consumers have been warned against taking part in this trend as it can have devastating consequences on your finances long-term, and see supplies cut off when they’re needed most.
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With the cost of living still rising, and the price cap on energy bills set to soar once again later in the year, many people are worrying about how to make ends meet, with searches of the term “can’t pay my bills” up 2,400 per cent in the last seven days.Īn anonymous campaign by Don’t Pay UK has been gaining momentum in recent weeks, with the scheme encouraging people to stop paying their energy bills this winter in an attempt to reduce the cost.
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