Full list of energy discounts you can apply for – and you could save £100s

£650 cost of living payment

Anyone claiming Universal Credit and other means-tested benefits could be eligible for the £650 cost of living payment.

It will be dished out in two instalments - households already started to receive the first chunk, worth £326, last month.

Those on Tax Credits, are due to receive their payment from September.

The second payment will follow in autumn, worth £324.

The deadline to be eligible for the first payment was if you were in receipt of the eligible benefit payments as of May 25.

But if you missed this deadline, you could still be eligible for the second half of the payment - details on when this deadline is will be shared soon.

If you're eligible, you will receive the help automatically - there's no need to apply.

£400 energy bill discount

Around 29million households will get a £400 energy bill rebate.

The money won't be paid directly into your bank account, but instead will be taken off your energy bill in six instalments from October by your energy supplier.

In October and November £66 will be taken off, and £67 from December to March 2023.

However, there are a number of people who won't get the rebate.

Renters who pay "all-in" and Park Home tenants won't get the discount.

This is because the cash goes to the billpayer.

If you're a prepayment meter customer, you need to take action.

Traditional prepayment meter customers will be provided with energy bill discount vouchers in the first week of each month, issued via text message, email or post, using the customer’s registered contact details. 

You'll need to redeem this voucher in order to use it - you can do this from wherever you usually top up your meter.

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

Experts have warned prepayment meter customers could miss out on the discount because of the way they have to claim it.

£150 cost of living payment for those with disabilities

Around six million disabled people will receive a £150 cost of living payment to help with their energy bills.

This payment is to help them pay for any energy intensive equipment they might have - as higher energy bills will have pushed up the cost of using them.

It's worth remembering that many disability benefit recipients also get means tested benefits - so this £150 sum is different to the £650 payment.

Like the £650 cash boost, the £150 help will be exempt from tax, will not count towards the benefit cap, and will not have any impact on existing benefit awards.

The payment will be dished out next month.

£300 cost of living payment for pensioners

Either in November or December, a £300 one-off "Pensioner Cost of Living Payment" will be paid out to eight million pensioner households.

It will be given to those who already get the Winter Fuel Payment - which is worth between £100 and £300 for those over state pension age.

The extra £300 boost will be paid on top of this support which means some eligible households will see their payments double this winter.

You can check out if you are eligible for the Winter Fuel payment in our explainer.

Direct debit discount - up to £140

Simply switching to pay your bills via direct debit could see you save up to £140.

Paying for your bills through this method is often a cheaper way of paying compared cash or cheque payments, or online or through an app.

The discount is automatic and most suppliers will add a line to your bill to say it has been applied.

This is the discount suppliers are offering customers:

• British Gas - 7% off bill, almost £140 for customers paying £1,971 a year
• Utilita customers can also get a 6% discount - almost £118 for someone paying £1,971
• Shell Energy - £96 a year discount
• Good Energy - up to £30 a year

Warm home discount scheme - £150

You can get £150 off your energy bills with the Warm Home Discount scheme.

It was previously worth £140 but has been boosted by £10 for the next batch of payments.

You used to have to apply for the payment - but now you no longer have to.

You will automatically qualify if you are receiving certain benefits.

Your energy supplier will automatically confirm your eligibility as long as you were receiving any of the qualifying benefits on or before Sunday August 21.

You'll need to be a recipient of one or more of the following benefits to qualify:

• Income support
• Income based jobseeker's allowance
• Income related employment and support allowance
• Housing benefit
• Universal credit
• Child tax credit
• Working tax credits
• Pension credit guaranteed
• Pension credit savings credit

Charity grants - up to £750

You can  that help you pay for gas and electricity bills.

The Sun found some charities are offering up to £750 to put towards your energy usage.

For example, the Fuel Bank Foundation charity offers households £49 worth of fuel vouchers in the winter months, and £30 from April 1 to October 31.

While cancer charity Macmillan has launched a new fund worth £3.5million to help people struggling with their bills - including energy costs.

Here are 30 ways to cut your energy bill NOW.

An energy expert explains why you should NEVER cancel your energy bill direct debit.