OREANDA-NEWS. Around 350,000 customers will benefit from this year's Warm Home Discount (WHD) scheme which enables pensioners and vulnerable customers to receive financial help with their winter fuel bills.

SSE will spend GBP 50 million this year helping vulnerable customers; this includes funding assistance for over 80,000 in the WHD scheme's 'broader group' category against an obligation target of 58,000.

SSE has achieved this through ongoing promotion by front line advisors and by working with external partners such as Citizens Advice Bureau, National Energy Action and Energy Action Scotland to help identify those most in need of help.

Under this scheme, two groups of customers - a 'core' group of pensioners and a 'broader group' of other vulnerable customers - are given GBP 135 to help with the cost of energy over the winter. Over 240,000 of our customers have received Core Group rebates.

Under the rules of the scheme we are required to verify eligibility of a percentage of customers in advance of payment and all payments must be allocated to accounts prior to 31 March 2014. In order to progress these activities, SSE will close the 2013/14 Broader Group to new applicants on Thursday 16th January.

The Warm Home Discount will re-open for applications in May. In the meantime, SSE will continue to help vulnerable customers through a number of initiatives including its Priority Assistance Fund which helps with debt relief; benefit entitlement checks; tailored payment plans and energy efficiency advice and measures.

Annette Sloan, Priority Services External Partnerships Co-ordinator at SSE said: “Delivering this support includes the challenging task of identifying vulnerable customers in need of our help. We are therefore extremely proud to have delivered on these targets and exceeded our obligation in terms of identifying customers for our Broader Group. This has been done through the hard work of our highly trained advisors and partnerships with local authorities and charities.

“SSE is committed to supporting vulnerable customers and has a number of ways it can help those having difficulty paying their bills. Our message is always to get in touch with us and we will find ways to help. “