Warm Home Discount?

A question about : Warm Home Discount?

My parents qualify for the Warm Home Discount payment of Ј135 from their utility supplier as they receive pension credit and are over 75. I've seen several online advice sites say there is no need to apply as it will be automatic because the utility company will receive details of all its customers who are entitled and so payment will be automatic, but confusingly, I've just looked at their supplier's website and it is asking customers to apply.
If it is an online application only (which I doubt - hopefully) I will have to do it for them.
Interestingly, they knew nothing about this payment until I told them as I'd seen an online article about it.
Anyone know what they should do? I don't want them to miss out.

Best answers:

• There is a thread on the disability and dosh site where posting #2 explains about this.
  Hth x
• You have to contact the supplier direct, they send out a claim form and if they have it back in time, you get the discount. I've only just seen your message and it's now Feb, so I think you'll be too late this year, if you've not already applied.
  It will be down to flexibility and speed of your supplier, so make contact and see of there is still time. If you've missed this year, find out when to apply next year, discount is from March to April. But they will say each year they have to wait for Gov to let them know how much, so you can't apply until they know, around Aug. You have to apply every year, seems a pain and a waste of time, but I suppose they pay out less if folk forget or don't know about the scheme.
• Sorry for resurrecting this old thread that I started last year, but is anyone else having difficulty getting this payment? I have elderly parents who say they never got it last March (they knew nothing about it at all) and have had no letter this autumn telling them they will get it next March, which I believe is how it works.
  They are getting Pension Credit so I assumed it was automatic - but nothing yet.
  They are with EDF for elecricity and British Gas for gas (both are listed as being part of the scheme).
  I need to chase this up for them but don't quite know where to start? I don't want them to miss out again.
• My mum received a letter from EDF a few weeks ago and I filled out online form for her. It said that if you get the guaranteed part of pension credit you do not need to claim if you only get savings pension credit you do.
• PS: I do appreciate your frustration that your parents have missed out. Many benefits are not well publicised and often difficult to obtain. One could be forgiven for thinking this is a deliberate ploy to discourage applicants and may be an integral part of Ian Duncan Smith's plan to reduce government spending on benefits.
• The rich get richer, whilst the poor ....... go to food banks.
  It will be no surprise to you that benefits, pensions and the minimum wage et al have not kept pace with inflation. It may surprise you to know what the minimum state pension and minimum wage would be if they had kept pace with salary increases paid to bankers and CEOs.
  It is convenient for the Westminster blood suckers to blame benefit cheats whilst awarding themselves huge pay rise and pension benefits.
• "2.Your parents may qualify as "automatically considered", i.e. they are eligible. However they MUST apply. How else would EDF know your parents are eligible?"
  I've actually been to both suppliers' and the Gov.uk website and it states that if you are in receipt of pension credit it is automatically paid as they are informed by the benefits dept.
  I suppose my parents have fallen through the net somehow and I'm going to have to phone someone - that'll probably be a rewarding experience -not!