I have a pre-payment meter – do I still get the £400 energy discount?

THE Chancellor has unveiled households will get a £400 energy bill discount - we explain if pre-payment meter households will get it too.

A £15billion emergency package of support was revealed today to help desperate households tackle a crippling cost of living crisis.

The relief will help millions struggling to pay for soaring energy bills - which are set to jump by a further £830 on average in October.

That's when the energy price cap could jump from £1,971 to somewhere "in the region of £2,800", according to Ofgem's boss.

To ease the squeeze, Mr Sunak revealed a raft of measures today, including:

• Windfall tax on gas and oil firms
• £650 one-off payment for Universal Credit and benefits
• £300 one-off payment to low-income pensioners
• £150 extra one-off disability payment
• £400 energy discount for EVERY household
• £500million added to the Household Support Fund

He told MPs: "We need to make sure that for those whom the struggle is too hard and for whom the risks are too great they are supported.

"This Government will not sit idly by while there is a risk that some in our country might be set so far back they might never recover."

One of the emergency measures announced was a £400 energy discount for households in the UK.

Payments will be split over six months, with the first one expected to land in accounts in October.

Around 4.3million people in the UK are on pre-payment meters.

We explain what the discount is - and if you'll get it if you pay-as-you-go for your energy.

How does the £400 energy bill discount work?

The £400 energy bill discount will replace the £200 energy rebate due to be paid out in October.

Households were told that they would be paid £200 from October which they would have to pay back over five years.

Under original plans, repayments would automatically be added to people's bills in £40 instalments from April next year.

But those plans were scrapped by the Chancellor today.

Instead, every household will get a £400 grant that you DON'T have to repay through higher energy bills.

The help will be paid via your energy supplied from October and payments will be split over the successive six months.

Will I get the help if I'm on a pre-payment meter?

Yes - you'll get the £400 help if you're a pre-payment customer.

EVERY household in the UK will receive the help - but how you'll be paid will vary depending on the type of meter you have.

Customers with pre-payment meters will see the money applied to their meter, otherwise they'll get a voucher.

It is unclear whether prepayment meter customers will get the £400 as a lump sum, or whether payment will also be split over a six month period.

The government hasn't shared further details on how to find out if you'll get a voucher, or whether your meter will be topped up for you.

It also hasn't shared details on exactly how to use the voucher.

We've asked for more details and will update this story when we know more.

If you are not on a pre-payment meter and you're a credit or direct debit customer, you'll see the £400 grant paid to your account in instalments.

Petrol prices  have hit record highs in recent months while the price of some basic food items have shot up by as much as 60%.

One mum told The Sun how she worries that she won’t be able to feed her kids or keep her fridge running due to soaring energy bills.