Roll-out of £600 energy support payments begins in NI

Roll-out of the government's energy support scheme finally starts in Northern Ireland today.

The delay is being blamed on the fact we have a different energy market than the rest of the UK and on complications related to the power-sharing collapse at Stormont.

Households are getting £600 paid in one lump-sum rather than instalments to account for the longer wait.

The extra £200 is in recognition of the fact most houses in Northern Ireland use home heating oil.

Vouchers to redeem the money are being posted out to customers who do not pay their energy bills by direct debit.

Those who do pay by direct debit, will receive the money directly into their bank accounts.

The vouchers can only be redeemed at post offices with mailout taking place in tranches over the next four weeks and due to be completed by the end of February.

Here's what you need to know - our Reporter James Gould has been finding out

Post Office has worked with the electricity suppliers to prioritise the delivery of vouchers to households on the customer care register. Each gas and electricity supplier is required to compile and maintain a customer care register which stores details of consumers who merit special treatment on account of age, disability or chronic illness.

The Post Office is urging everyone due to receive a voucher to pay close attention to their post and to be careful not to accidentally throw their voucher away.

The voucher is made up of a £400 Energy Bill Support Scheme payment and an additional £200 Alternative Fuel Payment. 500,000 households in Northern Ireland are eligible for the voucher and it is expected post offices will be busier than usual.

Of the 500 post offices in Northern Ireland, the vast majority are open on Saturdays and around 150 are open on Sundays.

Andrew Goddard, Head of Payments for the Post Office, said, “This is a major logistical exercise and we are working very hard to distribute the vouchers as quickly as possible. We are working with the energy companies to distribute all vouchers by the end of February so please be patient and keep an eye out for yours to arrive.”

“The only way to redeem the voucher is at a Post Office. The good news is that when you do receive it, our branches are open long hours and Postmasters and their teams will be working flat out to process them and support their communities.”

“Please do read the voucher very carefully and ensure you take it, plus the forms of ID specified, to ensure the teams can process your voucher and you receive your money. There are common questions and answers included with the voucher as well as information on what to do if you need to claim the voucher on behalf of someone else.”

“We also encourage customers to receive your money and deposit this straight into your bank account. We have an agreement with all the major banks and staff at the branch will be able to do this for you there and then.”

“Your energy provider may contact you to say your voucher should be arriving in the post soon. But the actual voucher will only ever be sent by post. The voucher will never be sent by email, text or other route.”

What will the letter look like?

Below is a copy of the envelope households should look out for. All vouchers will be sent in this envelope. Any other communications received by email, call, text or other route, claiming to be an energy voucher, should be ignored.

The letter will explain what you need to bring with you to the post office to redeem the money.

For Keypad Customers, the letter will be addressed to ‘Occupier’. The letter includes the exact table below detailing what that customer needs to bring to the Post Office.

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