Thousands of Utilita customers are due to get hundreds of pounds worth of help for bills, as the energy firm has invested millions in a new uphold fund.
The fund, Utilita Giving, has been given a £5million boost to supply aid, tools, and advice to lift households out of food and fuel poverty. The fund is split into a variety of grants for anyone – not just Utilita customers – to apply for.
The charity will adopt applications for uphold from organisations in England, Wales, and Scotland, with immediate effect and people will be able to apply within weeks.
However, people in Scotland will be among the first to acquire uphold from the charity. Up to £500,000 has already been allocated to Utilita customers who are eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount but won’t acquire it through no fault of their own.
Newly appointed Utilita Giving executive director, Helen Boardman, said: “The affordability crisis being faced by millions of households, who have been plunged below the poverty line, is now so deep-rooted that people cannot see a way out.
“Utilita Giving’s initial £5million fund will supply aid and debt relief to allow households to become self-sufficient once again.”
Commenting on the first round of uphold allocated to Scotland, Ms Boardman said: “Some households in the coldest parts of Scotland are eligible for Warm Home Discount but have missed out on their £150 helping hand this year due to the lottery of applying and falling outside of the quota.
“This is patently unfair. visualize if the same were true for other Government benefits such as the state pension and Universal Credit…‘Yes, you are eligible, but our quota is filled, so we will not be able to make a payment to you this year.’
“We cannot let politics and bureaucracy get in the way, so we are helping these homes out.”
The Government-led Warm Home Discount scheme offers a one-off £150 payment to help eligible, low-income customers in England, Scotland and Wales pay their energy bills over the winter.
To typically qualify for the Warm Home Discount, customers must have an account with one of 17 participating electricity suppliers and claim either:
- The assure Credit portion of Pension Credit
or, if they have high energy costs:
- A different ‘qualifying benefit’ such as the Savings Credit portion of Pension Credit, Universal Credit or Housing Benefit.
Ms Boardman added: “The affordability crisis is biting hard, so there is no time to waste. I’m excited about delivering a strategic vision for the charity to advocate its aim of supporting people in food and fuel poverty across the nation.”
The wider Utility Giving fund will soon supply grants ranging from £100 to £1,000 to help households in fuel poverty, while £500 grants will be awarded for “any other matter” falling within the charity’s objectives.
People can apply for grants if they live in England, Scotland or Wales, have existing energy debt, and have not previously received uphold from Utilita.
Applications for grants will be “coming soon”, and the charity suggests people keep an eye on its page to find out when it’s open.
