Days left to claim Energy Bills Support Scheme vouchers

The scheme means that any household with an electricity supply in England, Scotland and Wales is eligible for a £400 discount.

But many people on prepayment meters, often the most vulnerable, have not received the Government discount that was paid out between October 2022 and March 2023.

The discount was sent automatically to those paying by direct debit, with six instalments sent each month over the winter.

In Cities of London and Westminster, and Hampstead and Kilburn, 44 per cent of vouchers are still unclaimed.

And in Brent Central 39 per cent are still unclaimed.

Simon Francis, co-ordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said: “Far too often support payments under this scheme have not found their way to vulnerable households.

“There is now less than a week to go before this support will be lost to households forever.

“If anyone feels they have missed out on Energy Bills Support Scheme payments they should contact their energy firm immediately.”

London had more than 650,000 vouchers unclaimed at the end of March when the scheme was supposed to have ended.

The councils with the highest rates of unclaimed vouchers are:

• Cities of London and Westminster – 44%
• Hampstead and Kilburn – 44%
• Ealing Central and Acton – 41%
• Brent Central – 39%
• Finchley and Golders Green – 39%
• Glasgow Central – 38%
• Hendon – 36%
• Westminster North – 35%
• Chelsea and Fulham – 35%
• Hornsey and Wood Green – 35%
• Brighton Pavilion – 34%
• Holborn and St Pancras – 32%
• Greenwich and Woolwich – 31%
• Ealing North – 31%
• Ilford North – 30%

The deadline for claiming the vouchers is June 30.