Thousands urged to claim £200 cash payment before deadline

Households across Wales are being urged to apply for the £200 energy support scheme before the deadline runs out at the end of the month.

The fuel support scheme offered by the Welsh Government gives a one-off £200 payment to people on low incomes and certain benefits, with around 400,000 households thought to be eligible, according to Wales Online.

Fuel Support Scheme

The fuel support scheme was first launched back in December 2021 and originally offered claimants £100 towards their bills but this was doubled to £200 in February 2022 due to the impact of soaring living costs.

Energy costs are still roughly twice the amount as last year, despite the UK government's energy price guarantee. However, ministers at Cardiff Bay confirmed last year that the scheme will not be in place for 2023/24 due to financial pressures.

The money is to provide help with energy bills in addition to the winter fuel payment offered by the UK government and you will need to get in touch with your local council to apply.

The payment will be available to all eligible energy customers regardless of how they pay for fuel including those who pay by pre-payment meter, direct debit, pay quarterly or for those who use off-grid fuel.

Read more:

⋙ Thousands have missed energy support payment, here's how you can claim it

⋙ Millions of households to receive new £200 payment, check if you're eligible

Eligibility and how to apply

The scheme will be open to households where an applicant or their partner is in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits at any time between September 1, 2022 and January 31, 2023, as per Gov.wales:

• Income support
• Income based jobseeker's allowance
• Employment and support allowance
• Universal credit
• Working tax credits
• Child tax credits
• Pension credit
• Personal independence payment (PIP)
• Disability living allowance (DLA)
• Attendance allowance
• Carers allowance
• Contributory benefits
• Council tax reduction scheme (CTRS)
• Armed Forces independence payment
• Constant attendance allowance
• War pension mobility supplement

Receipt of carers allowance includes those people who are being paid it and people who have claimed it but due to the overlapping benefit rules do not receive it as a cash benefit. One payment will be available to all eligible households however they pay for their fuel, and can be claimed regardless of whether they are using on or off-grid fuel.

The deadline to apply in Wales depends on your local council, but most are giving a final date for applications of 5pm on Tuesday, February 28. Applications can be made to your local authority via their website.You can find your council’s site here.

Read more:

⋙ Millions to receive first £301 instalment of £900 cost-of-living payment

Sources used:

- Wales Online 'Urgent deadline to apply for £200 energy support scheme'

- Gov.wales 'Wales fuel support scheme: 2022 to 2023'