State pensioners are being urged to check if they can claim from a pool of £1,900 in total available from British Gas and Octopus Energy this winter if they’re no longer eligible for a £300 Winter Fuel Payment.

Both of the energy firms offer schemes which can help older customers who are struggling this winter after losing their Winter Fuel Payment.

Octopus Energy offers payments of between £50 and £200 for pensioners.

The gas and electricity supplier has promised to set up its own Winter Fuel Allowance for pensioners who will no longer receive the £300 Winter Fuel Payment after it was cut by the government and changed to a means tested benefit based on Pension Credit eligibility instead.

The company said that because ‘fewer UK households are now eligible’ for the government’s help, the firm has decided to ‘step up’ and offer the money itself.

Octopus Energy will send out ‘Winter Fuel Payments’ of between £50, £100 and £200 to state pensioners who are no longer eligible for the government’s official Winter Fuel Payments due to the changes and the Ofgem price cap’s 10 percent increase, upping bills by another £149.

It said: “Fewer UK households are now eligible for the government’s £200-300 Winter Fuel Payment this year. And we know many customers depended on this help.

“That’s why we’re stepping up to help bring this support back to customers who need it most: offering our own £50, £100 and £200 ‘Winter Fuel Payments’ to thousands of Octopus customers who’ll no longer be eligible with the recent changes.

Meanwhile, British Gas is offering up to £1,700 in free cash payments to state pensioners who have lost their Winter Fuel Payment and to anyone else who is struggling to make ends meet due to the burden of high energy bills.

And the money isn’t just for British Gas customers, but is open to anyone who is a customer of any energy firm, although British Gas wants people to try their own supplier first.

British Gas has brought back its British Gas Energy Trust’s Individual and Families Fund, which is now accepting new applications from those struggling with energy debts.

Applications were closed in March 2024 but this week have reopened for the coming winter.

Though it’s a British Gas scheme, the fund is also being offered to customers of other energy companies including OVO, Octopus, EDF and E.On too.

In order to qualify for the fund, you must have between £50 and £1,700 of debt on your account. You must be in England, Scotland or Wales, and have not received a grant from British Gas in the past two years.

You also must be seeking a grant to clear an outstanding debt on an existing, open account and it must be for your main residence, and need to have been given advice by a money help service in the past six months, such as Citizens Advice.

British Gas said: “The Individual and Families Fund is open to credit and pre-payment meter customers. You do not need to be a British Gas customer to apply for this fund - you can be a British Gas Customer, or a customer from another supplier with arrears of up to £1,700. However, we want to ensure that grants go to people who cannot access energy debt help from their own provider.

“If your application is successful, your energy account will be credited with the grant. Please note the British Gas Energy Trust does not award cash payments. You must be in or facing fuel poverty.”

To apply go here.

In order to qualify for the fund, you must have between £50 and £1,700 of debt on your account. You must be in England, Scotland or Wales, and have not received a grant from British Gas in the past two years.

You also must be seeking a grant to clear an outstanding debt on an existing, open account and it must be for your main residence, and need to have been given advice by a money help service in the past six months, such as Citizens Advice.

British Gas said: “The Individual and Families Fund is open to credit and pre-payment meter customers. You do not need to be a British Gas customer to apply for this fund - you can be a British Gas Customer, or a customer from another supplier with arrears of up to £1,700. However, we want to ensure that grants go to people who cannot access energy debt help from their own provider.

“If your application is successful, your energy account will be credited with the grant. Please note the British Gas Energy Trust does not award cash payments. You must be in or facing fuel poverty.”

To apply go here.