MP welcomes confirmation from government in relation to Energy Bill Support Scheme payments in Northern Ireland

The UK Government announced the workings of the scheme earlier today (Monday), with households to receive a single payment of £600.

The government has confirmed it will fund Northern Ireland electricity companies for these vital payments, with direct debit customers receiving the payment automatically into their bank account. Other customers will be sent a voucher to redeem the £600 payment, with further details of how they will work and what ID will be required set out shortly.

Carla Lockhart said: “The confirmation that payments will begin in January is welcome, albeit long overdue.

“This announcement does not excuse the government for the delay they have presided over in issuing these payments to date.

“The bottom line is this money should, and could, have been with households across Northern Ireland by now if the government had wanted it to.

“That is a point I have been making to the government on an almost daily basis, and I am pleased that they have finally moved to this point.

She continued: “Households in Northern Ireland will receive a single payment of £600 starting in January.

“Electricity firms will be funded for the payments, with direct debit customers receiving the money into their bank accounts.

“Other customers, such as those on pay as you go systems, will be sent a voucher to redeem the payment with further details still to be issued.

“It is imperative that these vouchers are delivered in a timely fashion. We should not forget that the government promised these payments would be received in November.

“I will be engaging with the government to emphasis that these payments must be made in this latest time framework,” Ms Lockhart concluded.

The support will combine £400 from the government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme Northern Ireland (EBSS NI) with £200 under the Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) scheme announced by the Chancellor in the Autumn Statement.