Alternative Fuel £200 payment - claim rejected because of subsequent house move

davidallen222

Hello all,

After 4 months of several phone calls and emails, I have yet to receive the £200 alternative fuel payment for the LPG heating of my home during the winter.

I moved home just days before the government portal opened in March 2023, after weeks of waiting to put my claim in. I submitted evidence that I had paid over £200 for gas bottles between October and March and did not expect any issues.

However, because on the actual date of my claim I was a few days into living at my new property, my claim was rejected because I ‘was not living in the property at the time of making a claim’.

So, because of the governments incompetence in getting the portal up and running, I’m denied the payment. Had the portal opened just a few days earlier, I would have been eligible because I would have still been in the property I was claiming for, despite the fact I was claiming for costs incurred over the winter.

I have spoken to both my local authority and the government help desk, and both people I spoke to agree that they think I should get the payment , but their hands are tied by the guidance saying ‘claimants must still be living in the property when claiming’

I don’t suppose anyone has had a similar issue and managed to get it resolved?

Thank you 

Spoonie_Turtle

We've had a few posters miss out purely due to the dates.  As far as I know the only way to theoretically get anywhere would be to take it up with your MP … the chances of that succeeding are low (or zero, with some MPs) but there is no other avenue, as you've found the ones involved with administering it are constrained by the criteria.

davidallen222

Spoonie_Turtle said:

We've had a few posters miss out purely due to the dates.  As far as I know the only way to theoretically get anywhere would be to take it up with your MP … the chances of that succeeding are low (or zero, with some MPs) but there is no other avenue, as you've found the ones involved with administering it are constrained by the criteria.

I thought I may just hit a brick wall, but thanks for taking the time to confirm it, much appreciated