npower reduced tariff

mocky10157

Ihave received a bill for over £600 for electricity from npower, my husband is disabled and we have a daughter under 16, they told us that we may qualify for a reduced tariff. I am working and earn less than £13,500 pa (this is gross pay and not the actual amount you bring home which is £800 per month. After they add on top my husbands benefits and our child benefit we come over the limit of £13,500 how the hell does this help. so if I give up work and claim benefits I would get help I cant see that this benefits anyone. Any one else had this problem with npower. I am really annoyed about this.:mad::mad:

kjsmith7

Whilst I understand it's never nice to be told you can't get something because you bother to work hard, they have to have an earnings limit I suppose.

Have a look and see if any other suppliers offer a social/reduced tariff. Obviously you won't be able to move until the balance is cleared, but it's worth knowing your options. I think Scottish Power and British Gas do one each, but not sure about the others. Also, check if you can get other things cheaper, for instance with my water company you can get a reduced rate if you are on Disability Living Allowance. Hope that helps and wish you the best of luck.

Fire_Fox

Disability allowance doesn't usually class as income for many purposes neither do child benefits AFAIK, might be worth looking into NPower's definition of income?? Would you be under the limit if they just took your wages and your husband's ESA or IS?

If it's any consolation there are loads of single people living alone on very low incomes who are known to be in fuel poverty but don't qualify for social tariffs or winter fuel payments because we aren't old, young or disabled. Trust me £100 a month electricity bills are impossible on £64 a week JSA if you still wish to eat.

PNPSUKNET

suppose they can only help so many people, its not a right for them to give it like any company

Joyful

If you are only earning £13,500 you should also probably be getting either child tax credit or working tax credit( if not both). I agree with Firefox that people without children can often suffer more so with fuel bills.

kjsmith7

Usually with social tariffs they take the total income for the household, including the amount of benefits paid even if you don't see them, like council tax benefit, for instance.