How will the payment be applied for each payment method?

Direct debit customers

According to the Government website, direct debit customers will receive the discount automatically as a reduction to the monthly direct debit amount collected, or as a refund to the customer’s bank account following direct debit collection during each month of delivery.

Standard credit and payment card customers

Standard credit customers and payment card customers will see the discount automatically applied as a credit to standard credit customers’ accounts in the first week of each month of delivery, with the credit appearing as it would if the customer had made a payment.

Smart prepayment meter customers

Smart prepayment meter customers will see the discount credited directly to their smart prepayment meters in the first week of each month of delivery.

Traditional prepayment meter customers

Traditional prepayment meter customers will be provided with redeemable vouchers or Special Action Messages (SAMs) from the first week of each month, issued via SMS text, email or post. Customers, however, will need to take action to redeem these at their usual top-up point.

In all cases, no household should be asked for bank details at any point during the fund distribution.

Ministers are urging people to be cautious of potential scams and report them to the relevant authorities where they are suspected.