Karin Smyth, MP for Bristol South, is urging residents in the constituency to claim their Energy Bill Support Scheme voucher before they miss out on what they are owed.
Figures show that nearly 5,000 Energy Bill Support Scheme (EBSS) vouchers issued to people with pre-payment meters in Bristol South have not been claimed. This is money that people are entitled to and if it goes left unclaimed they will not receive it.
The Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) is a non-repayable discount of £400 from the Government, that every household with a domestic electricity connection was to receive from October 2022 until 31 March 2023, to help offset the higher energy bills. For many people, this required no specific action on their part, but for those on traditional prepayment schemes, they were issued with vouchers that needed to be redeemed at the Post Office, not at all top-up locations.
In Bristol South 21,040 vouchers have been issued, but only 16,210 have been redeemed. All vouchers must be redeemed by 30 June 2023.
Labour MP for Bristol South, Karin Smyth said:
“The cost of living crisis has hit every household in our community hard. Lots more could have been done by the Tory Government to alleviate the pain on your pay packet, but it’s important that you don’t miss out on the support that has been given.
“Don’t forget that if you are on a traditional prepayment schemes your vouchers are only valid until the end of June and can only be redeemed at the Post Office. If you don’t claim it, you will lose it.
“The priorities of the Tory Government have been all wrong. It’s clear that only a Labour Government will support people further with a proper Windfall Tax on huge gas and oil company profits. We will also insulate homes across the UK to bring energy bills down, and invest significantly in green energy that will help bring bills down and contribute to the creation of good, well-paid jobs across the country.”