Are you eligible for an energy rebate?

About 250,000 people aged 70 or over who get pension credit will receive a rebate of £80 off their electricity bills over the next three months. It will be paid automatically by the supply company.

Gas burner

To qualify, the householder (or spouse or partner) must have been born on March 26, 1940 or earlier and get only the guarantee credit part of pension credit. Their income apart from pension credit must be no more than £98.40 a week (single) or £132.60 (couple).

The rebate will apply only to British Gas, EDF Energy, E.ON, RWE npower, ScottishPower, and Scottish and Southern Energy. Smaller suppliers may join later.

Anyone who already has a reduced tariff on grounds of low income will probably be excluded.

The rebate will not be paid in Northern Ireland. People with pre-payment meters will be eligible, though the mechanism will be different.

For details, call 0845 600 0033.

Written by Paul Lewis, this article was first published in the April 2010 issue of Saga Magazine. Paul's opinions are his own and for general information only. Always seek independent, professional, financial advice.

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