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<p>The government is providing significant financial support to many households to
support them with rising energy bills. The Energy Bills Rebate will provide around
28 million households with an upfront discount on their bills worth £200. Energy suppliers
will apply the discount to domestic electricity customers from October, with the Government
meeting the costs. Households in England, which are in council tax bands A-D, will
also receive a £150 rebate on their council tax. The rebate to bills will be made
directly by local authorities from April and will not need to be repaid.</p><p>DWP
administers the Cold Weather Payment scheme, which provides £25 extra a week to vulnerable
people in receipt of certain income-related benefits, when the average temperature
has been recorded, or is forecast to be, 0 degrees Celsius or below over 7 consecutive
days at the weather station linked to an eligible person’s postcode.</p><p>Some customers
in receipt of Universal Credit may be entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment if they or
their partner reached state pension age on or before 26 September 2021.</p><p> </p><p>The
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy administers the Warm Home
Discount Scheme for low income and vulnerable customers. It gives direct assistance
with their energy costs. Energy suppliers provide rebates on energy bills currently
worth £140 per household each winter. This year (2021/22), the scheme will be worth
£354 million.</p><p>The Energy Price Cap will continue to protect consumers, ensuring
they pay a fair price for their energy this winter.</p><p> </p><p>Further detail on
all three schemes can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment</a></p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment</a></p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme</a></p><p> </p><p>In
addition, we recognise that some people require extra support over the winter, which
is why vulnerable households across the country can access the £500 million support
fund to help them with essentials. The Household Support Fund provides £421 million
to help vulnerable people in England with the cost of food, utilities and wider essentials.
The Barnett Formula applies in the usual way, with the devolved administrations receiving
almost £80 million (£41m for the Scottish Government, £25m for the Welsh Government
and £14m for the NI Executive), for a total of £500 million.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
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