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Now or never to claim EBSS prepayment meter vouchers

April 24, 2023

Fuel Bank Foundation has issued a warning to prepayment meter customers who have yet to claim the Government’s £400 Energy Bill Support Scheme (EBSS) voucher to “use it or lose it”.

According to official figures from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, as of February 78% (7.6 million) of EBSS prepayment meter vouchers had been redeemed across Great Britain, meaning around two million vouchers have yet to be claimed.

From October last year, households with a prepayment meter were entitled to receive £400 in six monthly instalments of £66 via a voucher from their energy supplier. Vouchers are valid for 90 days. However, expired or lost vouchers can be reissued. All vouchers must be used by 30^th June 2023.

Matthew Cole, head of Fuel Bank Foundation, warned the clock is ticking and urged anyone who hasn’t yet claimed their EBSS voucher to do so before it’s too late.

“We’re really concerned that hundreds of thousands of people with traditional prepayment meters are going to miss out on this financial support,” he said. “There is a lot of misinformation on who is eligible and how to redeem the vouchers, and there have been issues with the process of contacting people to let them know the vouchers are available. “We want to reassure people that if they haven’t claimed their EBSS voucher, there is still time do so.”

Matthew Cole, Head of Fuel Bank Foundation

To ensure as many people as possible redeem the vouchers, Fuel Bank Foundation has launched an awareness campaign among its client base, alerting them to the deadline for the EBSS vouchers and how to redeem them.

In addition to SMS and email messages being sent to clients, the charity has set up a dedicated microsite with useful information about how to access the vouchers and who to contact.

“Prepayment meter customers were unfairly disadvantaged because the EBSS payments weren’t paid directly into their bank account, as with direct debit customers. We want to give people every possible chance of redeeming the vouchers by giving them all the information they need to do so.”

Matthew Cole, Head of Fuel Bank Foundation

Matthew added: “If, after the deadline to use the vouchers has expired, there is money left in the EBSS pot, it should be shared between charities and organisations, such as Fuel Bank Foundation, that help people in fuel poverty.”

To find out more, read through our EBSS guide.