DWP warns there are 'just days left' to come forward for free £150 payment

There are just days left for 760,000 households to apply for key benefit and lock-in a £150 Warm Home Discount. A number of energy firms have started issuing the payment but it's not too late to qualify from the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ).

The DWP guideline state the £150 Warm Home Discount is available to those who claim for any of the following benefits on Sunday, August 11: Guaranteed credit element of pension credit, Income support, Income-based jobseeker's allowance, Income-related employment and support allowance, Housing benefit, Universal Credit, Child tax credit, Working tax credits or the "Savings Credit" part of pension credit.

However, even if you weren't receiving pension credit on the qualifying date of August 11, there's a trick you can follow to ensure that you get the extra cash later. This is because DWP rules stipulate eligibility for certain benefits can be backdated.

READ MORE Drivers 'must start' car engine 15 minutes before driving this week

People need to launch your claim by Sunday, November 10 and then successfully get it backdated to cover the August 11 Warm Home Discount qualifying date. Minister for Energy Consumers, Miatta Fahnbulleh, said: “This is an important day for those worried about energy costs as we launch our Warm Home Discount to help more than three million households with their energy bills this winter.

“From now until mid-December, letters will be sent to those eligible notifying them of their £150 discount. For most people, this will be applied automatically, and if not, there are easy-to-follow instructions provided in the letter."

The statement from the Labour Party minister went on and said: " If you don’t receive one but think you might be eligible then you can visit GOV.UK for an eligibility checker. Today we are also launching a helpline, open until February, which you can call to find out whether you meet the criteria.”