As I write, the first snow of 2023 is falling in Birmingham and, while it certainly makes the Second City look attractive, it also serves as a reminder of the difficulties some face when temperatures fall.

In this column, I want to reach out to members of Birmingham’s Irish Community to ask for their help in ensuring that we look after each other as heating bills rise.

In particular, I want to alert you to a scheme which exists to help people pay their bills, which at the moment is not being fully used.

Over 150,000 vouchers in the region are still unclaimed as part of the Energy Bills Support Scheme which provides a £400 discount to help with the rising costs of energy.



I want to urge all those who have yet to claim to make sure they do so by checking online or contacting their provider before 31 March 2023 deadline.

I want to ensure that everyone is receiving all the help that they’re entitled to from the government so I’m urging those 150,000+ households in the West Midlands who have yet to redeem their vouchers to make sure to claim the benefit before it is too late.

This has been a tough winter for far too many which is exactly why it’s so important that nobody misses out on this unprecedented offer of support.

The vouchers were first announced back in May last year and apply to all households in Great Britain.

The £400 discount was initially applied over a six-month period with reductions of £66 in October and November 2022 and then £67 every month between December 2022 and March this year.

People that use prepayment meters may be required to redeem their vouchers at their local top-up point. Suppliers have a responsibility to inform their customers how to access government support using the vouchers and must make several attempts to contact people who haven’t redeemed them.

As of the end of January, 76% of all vouchers issued so far have now been redeemed – meaning support reached more of these households than at any other point since the scheme began.

For more information, please visit:

www.gov.uk/get-help-energy-bills/getting-discount-energy-bill

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