South Somerset District Council has teamed up with the Centre for Sustainable Energy to help people save £140 on their electricity bill

The Warm Homes Discount is a discount on your electricity bill or the equal amount in credit on a prepayment meter) for the coming winter. You qualify if your energy supplier is part of the scheme and you meet the eligibility criteria.

The scheme is already open to applications.

Are you eligible?

There is a 'Core Group' who are automatically eligible and don't need to apply. You must have been receiving Pension Credit, Guarantee Credit alone or Guarantee Credit with Savings Credit on the 12 July 2015 to be eligible as part of this core group.

You may be able to claim Pension Credit if you are of pensionable age and are on a low income (whether or not you are working).

To check if you can claim pension credit, call the Pension Credit Enquiry Line on 0800 99 1234, or download a Pension Credit claim form from the www.gov.uk website.

If you don't meet the criteria for the Core Group you may be eligible under the 'Broader Group' and will need to apply.

Eligibility criteria vary between energy suppliers, but those on a low income, means tested benefits or with a vulnerable person in the household (e.g. with a disability or a child under five) often qualify.

Mike McClelland from the Centre of Sustainable Energy said: "The Warm Home Discount is a significant contribution to help with the cost of energy bills this winter. Contact the Home Energy Team and we can help you to assess your eligibility and guide you through the next steps to take in making an application".

Councillor Carol Goodall, portfolio holder for environmental health at South Somerset District Council added: "There are a range of offers and schemes available to the residents of South Somerset to help reduce their energy bills and make their home more energy efficient.

"Nobody wants to live in a house which is cold, damp and not warm - so I would urge residents to check to see if they are eligible for the Warm Homes Discount as soon as possible and start saving money now ".

To find out more about Warms Home Discount or other schemes on offer from the Centre for Sustainable Energy, call the Home energy Team on 0800 082 2234 or email home.energy@cse.org.uk.