Money
A little-known benefit paid out £3,500 when my partner died – it’s not means tested and takes minutes to apply
WHEN Isabella Day’s partner Ford unexpectedly died in August, she was forced to navigate running a small business and a household budget alone while grieving.
The 51-year-old goldsmith, from Devon, had worked with Ford Hallam selling hand-made gold jewellery at a store in Dartmouth and through website isabelladay.co.uk for years.
Ford was also a skilled craftsman and could restore items such as swords, and he was the only non-native artist to have been adopted into Japan’s ancient decorative metalworking tradition.
He was 61 when he died due to complications arising from an auto immune disease, leaving Isabella stunned and heartbroken.
She told The Sun: “It was a massive shock when he died. We were engaged, due to be married in October but instead of planning a wedding, I had to plan a funeral.”
The pair had lived together as a blended family with Isabella’s two sons 16 and 25 and one of Ford’s sons, 22.
Ford had no life insurance or pension when he died, so the drop in income left Isabella’s finances and business under huge pressure, too.
Two of their sons are in full-time education and so aren’t able to contribute to the family budget, and this month the 25-year-old has just moved into his own flat.
“I was struggling emotionally and grieving but I was now also solely responsible for the business that I had with Ford,” Isabella said.
“You can’t just scale up a skilled craft business when someone else’s output is no longer there.”
Feeling desperate for help, Isabella went to Citizen’s Advice in September to see if there was any financial support she could access.
The organisation told her about the Bereavement Support Allowance.
The benefit gives lump sum payments of up to £3,500 after a partner has died, as well as ongoing payments up to £350 for 18 months.
Within days of applying, she received the payment.
“I was really surprised to find out about it, but the whole thing has been amazing – it was so easy to apply, I did it in about 20 minutes,” she said.
“And it was facts that you can manage while you are grieving, I didn’t need to go into the details of the death or anything traumatic.”
The Bereavement Support Allowance is not mean-tested and it’s available even if you are not married to your partner – though you will have had to have been living together.
You will need to be under state pension age and your partner’s National Insurance contributions will need to be up to date for you to qualify.
Isabella added: “I just wish I had known about it sooner. In hospital they give you a booklet when your partner dies, but there was no mention of this benefit.
“It’s a lot of money and made a significant difference to us.
“I think a lot of women could benefit from knowing about this support, especially small business owners. There needs to be greater awareness of it.”
What is the Bereavement Support Allowance?
If your partner dies when you are under State Pension age you could claim for the Bereavement Support Payment.
The benefit isn’t means-tested so it doesn’t matter what your income is, if you have any savings or if you’re working.
The benefit is available if you were married, but you can also claim if you and your partner were living together, and you look after a child which you get Child Benefit for.
If you have children under the or you’re pregnant, you can get a lump sum payment of £3,500, as well as monthly payments of £350 for up to 18 months.
If you don’t have children and are married, you can still get support. You’ll be entitled to a lump sum payment of £2,500, plus monthly payments of £100 for up to 18 months.
You’ll be asked for your National Insurance number as well as your partners as part of the application.
You usually need to make a claim within 21 months of your partner’s death – and in most situations you’ll need to claim within three months of death to get the full amount of payments.
You can apply for the Bereavement Support Payment by filling in a form from the gov website or calling the Bereavement Service helpline on 0800 151 2012.
If you need more help, you can contact Citizens Advice in England on 0800 144 8848. You can also talk online or find your nearest Citizens Advice at citizensadvice.org.uk.
Where to get support for bereavement
There is lots of help and available if you are experiencing grief after the death of a loved one.
NHS therapy and counselling services – NHS talking therapies services are for people in England aged 18 or over. You can speak to your GP about talking therapies or get in touch with the talking therapies service directly without going to your GP.
At a loss – Find bereavement services and counselling across the UK
Child Bereavement UK – Offers support if you are bereaved after losing a child. Or if you’re a child or young person who is grieving after losing someone.
The Good Grief Trust – a charity run by bereaved people, helping all those experiencing grief in the UK.
Samaritans – if you’re struggling you can call Samaritans any time on 116 123 to talk about anything.
Money
The six homes worth up to £2million that could be yours for just £2 – including mansion with swimming pool
HOUSE raffles have boomed in popularity – and they could be the key to you becoming the owner of your dream home for just a few quid.
These property competitions are prize draws, which you can enter for free, or by buying at least one ticket.
The winner is then drawn at random on a specified date and is given the advertised home as a prize.
Of course, the chances of winning are slim, but if you’re one of the lucky ones, scooping your dream home can be life-changing.
Simon Williams, 41, scooped the picturesque cottage in Devon and £100,000 cash to spend after entering the Omaze Million Pound House Draw.
While Rose Doyle, 73, and husband Tony were able to move out of their three-bed council house in Birmingham after winning a £3million mansion in Cornwall.
But before you buy a ticket to win your dream home, it’s important to bear in mind the pros and cons.
Consumer expert Martyn James said: “There’s nothing wrong with having big dreams or fantasising about getting a brand new house of a big cash payout. But bear in mind that lotteries are a form of gambling and as such, can be addictive to many people.
“So set yourself a maximum spend and never go over it – and be realistic. Whenever you gamble, the house always wins.”
We round-up all the current house raffles – and how you can win a property worth up to £4million with just a £2 ticket.
£2million home in Devon – Omaze
A stunning three-bedroom coastal home in Devon worth over £2million could be yours in Omaze’s million pound house draw.
One lucky winner will get the keys to a beautiful contemporary home and entries start from as little as £10.
This two-tiered West Country residence comes complete with countryside views, a guest annex and a heated pool.
In addition to the property itself, the Omaze winner will receive £250,000 in cash to help them settle in.
The winner has the option to move straight into the property, or they can rent it out, or even put it back on to the market.
An estimated monthly rental income is around £4,000, according to Omaze.
Additional costs including stamp duty, mortgage fees and conveyancing costs are also covered.
The house also comes fully furnished.
The cost of entries starts at £10 for 15 entries and goes up to a costly £150 for 320 entries. The full details are below:
- £10 – 15 entries
- £25 – 40 entries
- £50 – 85 entries
- £150 entries – 320 entries
Omaze has guaranteed a minimum donation of £1,000,000 from the draw for suicide prevention charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM).
The Draw closes on Sunday, October 27 for online entries and Tuesday, October 29 for postal entries.
Watch our for property raffle scams
IT always pays to be wary of scams when entering competitions like this.
Senior Consumer Reporter Olivia Marshall explains how you can spot a scam.
If a house raffle isn’t for a charity or on a reputable platform, be wary.
There have been reports in the past of these raffles collapsing and questionable practises around who wins.
You could always check with an organisation like Trading Standards or the Gambling Commissions before entering.
To report a misleading advert call the Advertising Standards Agency on 020 7492 2222.
If you’ve paid for a ticket with no chance of winning or the prize keeps changing report the draw to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.
£4million home in Surrey – Raffle House
Raffle House allows people the chance to win either their multi-million pound dream home.
You may have heard about Raffle House, which was established in 2017, but might not know what it entails, or how to get started.
The company operates by selling raffle tickets for a small fee and then selecting a winner randomly.
The current Raffle House prize is a £4million property in Surrey, complete with £200,000 of furnishings.
The kitchen and family room overlook and have access to a garden terrace, perfect for alfresco summer mornings.
The dining room and living room both have huge glazed sliding doors, perfect for taking in the sun while keeping warm.
There are five bedrooms in total, with the principle featuring its own private bathroom.
If all this wasn’t enough, there’s also a private gym.
As with the Omaze draw, there’s no Stamp Duty or fees to pay for the winner.
If you want to be in with a chance to win, the draw closes at midnight on Thursday, October 31 and it costs the following to enter:
- £10 – 15 tickets
- £25 – 50 tickets
- £50 – 150 tickets
- £100 – 500 tickets
£450,000 apartment in London – Raffall
Homeowners and organisations can pay to host their own raffle on a portal such as Raffall.com.
Users have a web page which advertises their property, the maximum tickets they will sell, the price and the closing date.
Raffall draws the winner at random.
If the owner doesn’t sell enough tickets to make the raffle a success, the platform gives 75% of the money as compensation to the winner and keeps 25% for commission and costs.
The two-bedroom apartment in Catford, south east London is valued at over £450,000 and is being raffled by Kerb Appeal Raffle through Raffall.
Once a neglected and rundown property, the apartment has undergone a dramatic transformation.
A brand-new kitchen and bathroom has been installed, plus it has a striking glass banister in the entrance hallway, and stylish, trendy interiors ready for immediate occupancy.
Entries cost £2 and the raffle draw will take place on Friday, November 8 at 12pm or when the last ticket is sold – whichever comes sooner.
£1.2million Town House in Somerset – Raffall
This seven bedroom property in Frome, Somerset, is also being raffled off by Raffall.
There’s no stamp duty, mortgage or conveyancing fees to pay and you chose to rent it out, sell it on or move in.
You could earn £3,500 per month by renting the property out, according to the raffle’s host Taylormade.
The property measures 3,000 square and has oak wood flooring, bespoke lighting, high-end fittings, premium wool carpets and encaustic tiling.
It is set in a generous plot with a the stone walled garden, which is perfect for entertaining.
It can be accessed directly from the main dining kitchen area through two sets of glass doors.
There is also road parking, with space for four cars.
Entries cost £5 and the draw will close on Saturday, December 7 at 11pm, or when the last ticket is sold – whenever is sooner.
In addition, 10% of the host’s revenue goes directly to the charity Busoga Trust, which brings clean and safe water to rural communities in Uganda.
£850,000 home in East Sussex – Raffall
This Idyllic Country House in Sedlescombe, East Sussex, is set within large gardens close to the historic town of Battle.
It has its own heated swimming pool and is close to beaches in Hastings, Bexhill-On-Sea and Camber Sands.
Plus, there’s no stamp duty, mortgage or conveyancing fees to pay.
Tickets for this raffle cost £5 and 5% of the host’s revenue goes directly to Alzheimer’s Research UK.
The draw ends on Friday, 10 2025 at 5.30pm or when the last ticket is sold.
£25,000 narrowboat – Raffall
It’s not just houses that pop on these rafffles, you could even be in with the chance to set up home on a narrowboat.
The boat, called Sloe Patrol, has been restored over a four-year period with a new fully fitted kitchen, a bathroom with a shower and a bedroom with an extending king size bed and storage space.
The raffle’s host – James Posner – said that while the boat is currently worth around £25,000, he expects its value to increase to £40,000 over the next few years.
The raffle ends on October 16, or when the last ticket is sold.
Tickets for this raffle also cost £5.
Houseboats are exempt from stamp duty, and if you have a residential mooring and you fill fall into the lowest council tax band.
What should you check before entering?
National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team advises entrants to make sure they are aware of the terms of the raffle before entering.
The advert should explain what happens if not all tickets are sold. It should spell out if a lesser cash prize is offered, when the raffle closes and when the draw will take place.
If the date of the draw keeps changing the organiser is struggling to sell tickets.
Check the odds of winning. Competitions that specify the number of tickets they need to sell give you a chance of working out the odds.
Look for hidden bills. Lots of adverts state that stamp duty and legal fees will be paid for. If they don’t you need to foot the bill.
Check you can afford the maintenance and council tax for the house too.
Before handing over your cash, read past reviews of the organiser’s raffles, look at how long they’ve been established and whether there have been previous winners.
If it’s a homeowner hosting their first raffle, then it’s a case of buyer beware.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Money
Hammerson completes bond issue | Property Week
TRY 6 ISSUES FOR JUST £6
Try 6 issues of Property Week for £6 to finish this article.
Sign up now for the following benefits:
- Unlimited access to Property Week and newsletters
- Breaking news, comment and analysis from industry experts as it happens
Don’t want full access? REGISTER NOW for limited access and to subscribe to our newsletters.
Money
Nestle makes big change to Quality Street tubs and shoppers will be divided
NESTLE is making a huge change to Quality Street tubs and it will divide shoppers.
For the first time ever, the iconic chocolate brand will be launching paper tubs.
Starting next Monday, customers can find Quality Street in the new packaging at 60 Tesco supermarkets.
Nestle claims the paper tub, adorned in the signature Quality Street purple, boasts a luxurious design and feel, further enhanced by gold foil embellishments.
The tubs feature a “re-close” mechanism that ensures the lid can be securely sealed even after opening.
Once shoppers have enjoyed the Quality Street chocolates inside, the tub can be conveniently disposed of in household recycling bins.
This introduction is part of a trial, and Nestlé will be gauging the product’s popularity among shopper.
Jemma Handley, Senior Brand Manager for Quality Street, said: “We’re looking forward to seeing what Quality Street fans make of the paper tub.
“A lot of care and hard work has gone into the trial and we’re proud to be the first major manufacturer to trial a paper tub at Christmas.”
This isn’t the first time Quality Street has introduced new packaging aimed at enhancing the product’s recyclability.
In October 2022, shoppers were left outraged when Nestle axed the iconic brightly coloured plastic and foil wrappers that had encased its famous chocolates for 86 years.
In an effort to become more environmentally friendly, Quality Street chocolates have since been wrapped in a more subdued form of waxed paper.
However, the introduction of new paper tubs does not signal the immediate discontinuation of plastic and metal Quality Street tins.
Shoppers can still buy 600g plastic tubs of Quality Street chocolates at most major supermarkets.
Tins containing over 800g of the festive chocolates continue to be available too.
NEW TINS FOR 2024
Nestlé, has already launched a new version of its 813g Quality Street tin for sweet-toothed customers this winter.
The £12 tub features all the usual classic flavours and plays on Quality Street’s Halifax heritage – where it was first manufactured in 1936 and still is.
The 813g Quality Street tin is available now across a host of retailers nationwide including Asda, Co-op, Morrisons, B&M and Sainsbury’s.
Shoppers can pick up the new 813g tin for £12, £1.48 per 100g, which can obviously be reused after all the chocolates have been eaten.
However, if you’re not fussed about the nostalgic tin, you’ll pay less going for a different tub or packet.
Shoppers can pick up a plastic 600g tub from Tesco for £6 – £1 per 100g.
You can also pick up a 357g sharing bag of Quality Street from B&M for just £4 – £1.12 per 100g.
Nestle has also brought back a Quality Street fan-favourite for the second Christmas in a row.
The coffee creme flavour chocolate was last seen in Quality Street tubs over 20 years ago, until the chocolatier reintroduced it last year.
Nestle has confirmed that the sweet treat will be available once again this Christmas.
However, fans won’t find the iconic flavour in the usual Quality Street tubs.
Instead, the coffee-flavour fondant wrapped in dark chocolate has joined the 11 other Quality Street sweets at pick and mix stations across selected John Lewis stores in the UK.
They are also available in a limited-edition cracker at Waitrose and John Lewis stores for £5.50.
Tesco shoppers have been rushing to get their hands on Celebration tubs with just one iconic flavour in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, customers have been left in shock after B&M launched its new Christmas range.
SAVE MONEY AT THE SUPERMARKET
THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop.
You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they’ve been reduced.
If the food is fresh, you’ll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time.
Making a list should also save you money, as you’ll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket.
Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too.
This means ditching “finest” or “luxury” products and instead going for “own” or value” type of lines.
Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they’re misshapen or imperfect.
For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50.
If you’re on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too.
Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.
Money
EBay to ban private sales of common item due to fire risks
EBAY is set to ban private sales of a popular product in the UK, citing increasing safety concerns.
The move will come into effect on October 31, with only “eligible business sellers” allowed to continue offering the item on the platform.
The clampdown focuses on e-bikes and their batteries, following a sharp rise in incidents involving battery fires.
The London Fire Brigade reported 155 e-bike fires so far this year, a jump of 78% compared to 2022.
E-bikes, equipped with electrically-assisted pedals and battery power, have surged in popularity, but their safety has come under scrutiny.
In one tragic case, a man died when a battery pack he was charging overheated and ignited, leading to a house fire.
Read more on banned items
The UK’s regulatory body recently classified e-bike battery packs as “dangerous products,” further intensifying calls for better consumer protection.
An eBay spokesperson said: “Consumer safety is a top priority for eBay,” adding that the firm would audit sellers to ensure they meet CE mark safety standards for listed products.
The charity Electrical Safety First has praised eBay’s decision but insists new laws are necessary to safeguard consumers across all online platforms.
A spokesperson said: “We are encouraged to see eBay take proactive steps in an attempt to reduce the risk of substandard batteries entering people’s homes, as they pose a serious risk of fire if they fail.
“Whilst this voluntary move is welcome, we continue to call for online marketplaces to be legally obligated to take reasonable steps to ensure products sold via their sites are safe.
“We hope the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill will mandate this.
“This legislation must also be used to prevent battery fires by introducing mandatory third-party certification for e-bikes, e-scooters and their batteries to stop poor quality products from entering the market.
“It should also introduce more robust standards for conversion kits and regulations for charging.“
The Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, currently progressing through Parliament, could eventually make these obligations law.
For now, eBay’s ban on private e-bike sales is seen as a crucial step toward reducing fire risks associated with the product.
Despite the impending restrictions, nearly 3,000 used e-bikes are still available on eBay, highlighting the challenge of managing the growing demand for these vehicles while ensuring safety.
Meanwhile, earlier this year a man was forced to flee through a bedroom window after a house erupted into flames when an e-bike battery exploded.
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service was able to confirm that a lithium battery in the ebike overheated and caused a severe fire.
The fire service reminded e-bike owners to use the correct charger, never leave the device unattended and allow the battery to cool before charging.
Elsewhere, in another tragic case, the grieving boyfriend of a model killed in a horror e-bike flat blaze told how he tried to battle through flames to save her.
The 21-year-old was forced to jump out of a window naked when smoke billowed through his flat in London.
A fireball erupted through their home when on New Year’s Day 2023 when a dodgy ebike battery exploded.
The dangers of e-bikes
Last year, 11 people lost their lives to fires involving e-bikes and e-scooters, with hundreds injured as a result of the fires caused by the lithium-ion batteries.
Other victims include Sofia Duarte, who died in London on New Year’s Day 2023 at the age of 21, when a converted e-bike caught fire during the night.
Sofia was unable to escape the building with the fire blocking her escape route.
Alda Simoes, a friend of Ms Duarte, said: “We are out of time to save our beautiful Sofia and everyone that has passed away like her.
“But we will do everything in our power to prevent others going through what Sofia’s mum, me, family and friends are going through.
“This problem is a public safety issue that needs action from all political parties to introduce new measures to tackle the increasingly problem of e-bike battery fires.
“The number of these fires caused by these batteries keeps rising and we urgently need intervention to protect the public.
“Change needs to happen. There are people dying, what are we waiting for? Sofia’s death must have a purpose. If nothing changes, her death will be in vain.
“I am urging the next Government and all political parties to please, help us create change.”
On March 21, fire crews were called to an exploding e-bike on a train platform in Sutton, London, with dramatic footage showing flaming battery cells being projected from the battery across the platform.
Fire crews in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, were called to a property fire on April 6 following a severe fire that resulted in one person being taken to hospital with serious injuries.
The cause was deemed to be a charging e-bike.
Five others suffered minor injuries.
Four children were among six people taken to hospital due to smoke inhalation following an e-bike fire near Croydon at the beginning of April that caused serious damage to their maisonette, destroying the staircase between the first and second floor
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Money
Scottish Widows launches flexible income protection product
Scottish Widows has launched a flexible income protection product to help bridge the gender protection gap.
The product has been designed to be simple and easy to understand for established protection advisers, holistic advisers and those who may be new to advising in this area.
Research by Scottish Widows found that just 8% of people in the UK have cover in place if their income stopped suddenly.
Meanwhile, 42% of UK adults worry that their household wouldn’t cope if they were unable to work.
The data also revealed a gender protection gap with 29% of surveyed women saying they could not afford protection compared with 23% of men.
Over a quarter (29%) of women surveyed said they would expect to rely on a partner’s income if they could not work.
Scottish Widows’s intention with its new product is to build financial resilience for clients against financial shocks in their moment of need and enable a greater number of advisers to incorporate income protection into their recommendations.
The launch enhances the suite of products available through the recently digitised Scottish Widows Protect platform and via the UnderwriteMe Protection Platform portal; the product will be available on other protection portals in the coming weeks.
These latest developments provide advisers with a streamlined application process, an accelerated underwriting journey, and a better client experience.
As part of the launch, Scottish Widows has joined the Income Protection Task Force (IPTF), formalising its long-term commitment to open dialogue on ways to extend income protection across the country.
Product benefits
- Fracture and hospitalisation cover – included as standard with no extra charge.
- Rehabilitation/Proportionate benefit – a top-up payment to help clients resume work.
- Partnership benefits- clients can benefit from a range of partnerships available through Scottish Widows Protect:
- ‘Clinic in a Pocket’ (included in cover) to receive a GP sick note quickly and access to a GP 24/7
- A dedicated personal nurse service in partnership with Red Arc.
- Immediate income payment – received whilst the claim is still being assessed, provided a GP note is supplied and once the deferred period has passed.
- Mental health underwriting – Scottish Widows won’t decline an income protection application for mental health without an underwriting review conducted by a real person, rather than AI. We also ask the customer if they’re doing anything to improve their condition, for example improved nutrition, sleep or exercise. Where customers are proactively taking steps to improve their mental health we can provide better underwriting rates.
- Price lock promise – guarantees the quote for up to 12 months, subject to underwriting terms being imposed.
- Reduced earnings with our minimum benefit guarantee, even if your client’s earnings have reduced, as long as their monthly claim payment is more than £1,500, we won’t pay them less than this.
Scottish Widows protection director Rose St Louis said: “Life doesn’t always go in a straight line and an unexpected adverse health event can have a significant impact on our ability to remain financially stable.
“This is where products like income protection can come to the rescue and have a meaningful impact in reducing income ‘troughs’ if you’re unable to work due to illness or disability.
“Launching income protection is part of our effort to help customers feel prepared, no matter what life throws at them.
“Our research shows women are less likely to have protection, and we want to be part of the solution towards closing the gender protection gap while also making it easy for established protection writers, as well as those new to protection, to write this type of business.”
Money
Martin Lewis issues warning for 28million households to ‘act ASAP’ and save on energy bills as suppliers pull deals
MARTIN Lewis has issued a warning to millions of households who could slash their energy bills.
Last week, the energy price cap jumped from £1,568 to £1,717 a year.
This means that bills have risen by 10%, and the average household bill is up by more than £12 a month, or £149 a year.
However, Martin Lewis said: “Last week, the energy pants price cap, which dictates the rate eight in 10 homes in Eng, Scotland and Wales pay, rose by 10%
“Yet, for now, the deals you can compare and switch to are far cheaper.
“That’s why last week I called the current cap a pants cap, as, stay on it, and you’ll miss out on savings.”
Around 28million households are on standard variable tariffs, which are affected by the price cap, according to Ofgem.
However, there are several fixed energy deals that beat these tariffs.
The founder of MoneySavingExpert.com said: “A fix gives you peace of mind that the rate won’t change for a set time.
“Currently, a host of one-year fixes hugely undercut the price cap.
“Yet world turmoil has hit oil prices, and there’s potential knock-on to energy prices, so we’ve already seen three of last week’s cheapest fixes pulled and replaced with more expensive ones.”
EDF Energy also pulled the cheapest fixed deal on the market on Monday.
Those who signed up for the Essentials Fixed 1Yr Oct25v3 tariff were promised savings of £163 a year.
As a result, Martin added: “So for the short term, the mood music seems to say fixing ASAP is the safest route.”
The cheapest fixed deal available right now can still save the average household £162 a year.
How do fixed deals work?
Fixed deals work to protect customers from bill hikes if Ofgem were to increase the price cap in the future.
Customers on their supplier’s standard variable tariff see their energy prices change every three months, as these are tied to Ofgem’s price cap.
However, those who lock into a fixed energy deal are charged the same gas and electricity rates throughout the contract’s term.
Of course, doing so carries a slight risk of you paying more than those on the standard variable tariff if Ofgem’s energy price cap were to fall within your deal’s term.
The price cap is reviewed every three months in Oct, Jan, April and July, and can go up or down depending on what’s happening in the wholesale energy market.
Since October 1, those on the standard variable tariff (SVT) have had their rates capped by Ofgem at the following levels:
- 5.48p per kilowatt hour (p/kWh) for gas
- 22.36p per kWh for electricity
- A standing charge of 31.66p per day for gas
- A standing charge of 60.99p per day for electricity
- For a typical household that uses an average of 11,500kWh of gas and 2,700kWh of electricity every year, these rates will cap bills at roughly £1,717 .
As this is only an estimate for a typical household, if you use more energy, you’ll pay more.
But if you’re offered a fix that’s cheaper than October’s price cap, it’s always worth considering.
How can I check future price cap predictions?
EDF Energy has launches a brand new Ofgem price cap prediction tool on its website.
The energy company updates the tool with new information about changes to the cap on energy prices every Tuesday.
It also includes advice on how this affects your energy tariff choices.
You can find out more by visiting edfenergy.com/gas-and-electricity/price-cap-predictions.
Which suppliers are offering the best-fixed deals?
Outfox the Market is currently offering the cheapest deal on the open market right now.
Its Fix’d Dual Oct24 v5.0 tariff costs a typical household £1,555 a year.
This means it is £162 cheaper than Ofgem’s October price cap.
It comes with a £25 exit fee per fuel or £50 if you lock in with a dual fuel tariff.
British Gas‘ The Fixed Tariff v5 tariff matches the Outfox the Market deal, but it comes with a £50 exit dee per fuel.
Octopus Energy’s 12M Fixed October 2024 v1 costs £1,566 a year – £151 less than Ofgem’s October price cap.
This deal also comes with no exit fees, so customers can ditch and switch suppliers at any time.
Remember to always compare prices before switching, as energy tariffs vary widely, and costs differ depending on where you live.
Outfox the Market, Ovo Energy and British Gas fixes are available to those with or without a smart meter.
What are the alternatives?
Customers unwilling to commit to long-term fixed energy deals may want to consider flexible tariffs.
Kara Gammell, personal finance expert at comparison site Money Supermarket Group, says: “These will almost always be at or below the price cap.”
For example, E.ON Next‘s Pledge variable tariff offers a fixed discount of around three per cent on the price cap rates for 12 months.
It will save the average household around £50 a year but comes with a £50 exit fee if you switch before the year ends.
The deal is available to both new and existing customers.
EDF Energy’s Ensure Tracker works in a similar way and offers a £50 discount off the price cap’s standing charges for 12 months.
For a bigger reward but at a higher risk, Octopus Energy offers two variable tariffs which track wholesale gas and electricity costs.
Customers on the Octopus Tracker see their prices change daily, but unit rates have remained consistently lower than the price cap in recent months.
The Agile Octopus tariff works similarly to the Octopus Tracker, but the main difference is that the former’s prices change every half hour.
Remember that those wishing to switch to any of these tracker tariffs must have a smart meter.
What energy bill help is available?
THERE’S a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you’re struggling to get by.
If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.
This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.
If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don’t think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Several energy firms have grant schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria varies depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.
British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You don’t need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.
Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill, and some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you’re struggling.
Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.
-
Womens Workouts2 weeks ago
3 Day Full Body Women’s Dumbbell Only Workout
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
How to unsnarl a tangle of threads, according to physics
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
Hyperelastic gel is one of the stretchiest materials known to science
-
Technology3 weeks ago
Would-be reality TV contestants ‘not looking real’
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
‘Running of the bulls’ festival crowds move like charged particles
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
Maxwell’s demon charges quantum batteries inside of a quantum computer
-
News2 weeks ago
Our millionaire neighbour blocks us from using public footpath & screams at us in street.. it’s like living in a WARZONE – WordupNews
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
Sunlight-trapping device can generate temperatures over 1000°C
-
News3 weeks ago
the pick of new debut fiction
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
How to wrap your mind around the real multiverse
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
Quantum ‘supersolid’ matter stirred using magnets
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
Liquid crystals could improve quantum communication devices
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
ITER: Is the world’s biggest fusion experiment dead after new delay to 2035?
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
Quantum forces used to automatically assemble tiny device
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
Physicists are grappling with their own reproducibility crisis
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
Why this is a golden age for life to thrive across the universe
-
News3 weeks ago
You’re a Hypocrite, And So Am I
-
Sport3 weeks ago
Joshua vs Dubois: Chris Eubank Jr says ‘AJ’ could beat Tyson Fury and any other heavyweight in the world
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
Time travel sci-fi novel is a rip-roaringly good thought experiment
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
Laser helps turn an electron into a coil of mass and charge
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
Caroline Ellison aims to duck prison sentence for role in FTX collapse
-
Business2 weeks ago
Eurosceptic Andrej Babiš eyes return to power in Czech Republic
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
Nuclear fusion experiment overcomes two key operating hurdles
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
Nerve fibres in the brain could generate quantum entanglement
-
Technology2 weeks ago
‘From a toaster to a server’: UK startup promises 5x ‘speed up without changing a line of code’ as it plans to take on Nvidia, AMD in the generative AI battlefield
-
Football2 weeks ago
Football Focus: Martin Keown on Liverpool’s Alisson Becker
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
Rethinking space and time could let us do away with dark matter
-
News3 weeks ago
▶️ Hamas in the West Bank: Rising Support and Deadly Attacks You Might Not Know About
-
Science & Environment2 weeks ago
X-rays reveal half-billion-year-old insect ancestor
-
MMA2 weeks ago
Conor McGregor challenges ‘woeful’ Belal Muhammad, tells Ilia Topuria it’s ‘on sight’
-
News3 weeks ago
▶️ Media Bias: How They Spin Attack on Hezbollah and Ignore the Reality
-
Business2 weeks ago
Should London’s tax exiles head for Spain, Italy . . . or Wales?
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
A new kind of experiment at the Large Hadron Collider could unravel quantum reality
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
A slight curve helps rocks make the biggest splash
-
News3 weeks ago
New investigation ordered into ‘doorstep murder’ of Alistair Wilson
-
News3 weeks ago
Israel strikes Lebanese targets as Hizbollah chief warns of ‘red lines’ crossed
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
Future of fusion: How the UK’s JET reactor paved the way for ITER
-
Technology2 weeks ago
Quantum computers may work better when they ignore causality
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
UK spurns European invitation to join ITER nuclear fusion project
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
Why we need to invoke philosophy to judge bizarre concepts in science
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks ago
Cardano founder to meet Argentina president Javier Milei
-
News2 weeks ago
Why Is Everyone Excited About These Smart Insoles?
-
Science & Environment2 weeks ago
Meet the world's first female male model | 7.30
-
Technology2 weeks ago
Robo-tuna reveals how foldable fins help the speedy fish manoeuvre
-
Technology2 weeks ago
Get ready for Meta Connect
-
Health & fitness2 weeks ago
The 7 lifestyle habits you can stop now for a slimmer face by next week
-
Sport2 weeks ago
Watch UFC star deliver ‘one of the most brutal knockouts ever’ that left opponent laid spark out on the canvas
-
Health & fitness3 weeks ago
The maps that could hold the secret to curing cancer
-
Technology3 weeks ago
The ‘superfood’ taking over fields in northern India
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
A tale of two mysteries: ghostly neutrinos and the proton decay puzzle
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks ago
Low users, sex predators kill Korean metaverses, 3AC sues Terra: Asia Express
-
News3 weeks ago
The Project Censored Newsletter – May 2024
-
Politics3 weeks ago
UK consumer confidence falls sharply amid fears of ‘painful’ budget | Economics
-
Womens Workouts3 weeks ago
Best Exercises if You Want to Build a Great Physique
-
Womens Workouts3 weeks ago
Everything a Beginner Needs to Know About Squatting
-
News2 weeks ago
Four dead & 18 injured in horror mass shooting with victims ‘caught in crossfire’ as cops hunt multiple gunmen
-
Womens Workouts2 weeks ago
3 Day Full Body Toning Workout for Women
-
Sport3 weeks ago
UFC Edmonton fight card revealed, including Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi headliner
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks ago
Ethereum is a 'contrarian bet' into 2025, says Bitwise exec
-
Health & fitness3 weeks ago
The secret to a six pack – and how to keep your washboard abs in 2022
-
Business3 weeks ago
JPMorgan in talks to take over Apple credit card from Goldman Sachs
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
Quantum time travel: The experiment to ‘send a particle into the past’
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
Being in two places at once could make a quantum battery charge faster
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks ago
Bitcoin miners steamrolled after electricity thefts, exchange ‘closure’ scam: Asia Express
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks ago
Dorsey’s ‘marketplace of algorithms’ could fix social media… so why hasn’t it?
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks ago
DZ Bank partners with Boerse Stuttgart for crypto trading
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks ago
Bitcoin bulls target $64K BTC price hurdle as US stocks eye new record
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks ago
Blockdaemon mulls 2026 IPO: Report
-
TV2 weeks ago
CNN TÜRK – 🔴 Canlı Yayın ᴴᴰ – Canlı TV izle
-
Science & Environment2 weeks ago
CNN TÜRK – 🔴 Canlı Yayın ᴴᴰ – Canlı TV izle
-
Servers computers2 weeks ago
What are the benefits of Blade servers compared to rack servers?
-
News2 weeks ago
US Newspapers Diluting Democratic Discourse with Political Bias
-
Technology2 weeks ago
The best robot vacuum cleaners of 2024
-
Business1 week ago
Ukraine faces its darkest hour
-
News3 weeks ago
Church same-sex split affecting bishop appointments
-
Politics3 weeks ago
Trump says he will meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi next week
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
How one theory ties together everything we know about the universe
-
News3 weeks ago
Brian Tyree Henry on voicing young Megatron, his love for villain roles
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
Tiny magnet could help measure gravity on the quantum scale
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
How do you recycle a nuclear fusion reactor? We’re about to find out
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks ago
Decentraland X account hacked, phishing scam targets MANA airdrop
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks ago
RedStone integrates first oracle price feeds on TON blockchain
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks ago
‘No matter how bad it gets, there’s a lot going on with NFTs’: 24 Hours of Art, NFT Creator
-
Business3 weeks ago
Thames Water seeks extension on debt terms to avoid renationalisation
-
Business3 weeks ago
How Labour donor’s largesse tarnished government’s squeaky clean image
-
Politics3 weeks ago
‘Appalling’ rows over Sue Gray must stop, senior ministers say | Sue Gray
-
News3 weeks ago
Brian Tyree Henry on voicing young Megatron, his love for villain roles
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks ago
Coinbase’s cbBTC surges to third-largest wrapped BTC token in just one week
-
MMA3 weeks ago
Rankings Show: Is Umar Nurmagomedov a lock to become UFC champion?
-
Travel2 weeks ago
Delta signs codeshare agreement with SAS
-
Politics2 weeks ago
Hope, finally? Keir Starmer’s first conference in power – podcast | News
-
Technology2 weeks ago
Is sharing your smartphone PIN part of a healthy relationship?
-
Technology3 weeks ago
iPhone 15 Pro Max Camera Review: Depth and Reach
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks ago
Crypto scammers orchestrate massive hack on X but barely made $8K
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks ago
SEC asks court for four months to produce documents for Coinbase
-
CryptoCurrency3 weeks ago
‘Silly’ to shade Ethereum, the ‘Microsoft of blockchains’ — Bitwise exec
-
Womens Workouts3 weeks ago
How Heat Affects Your Body During Exercise
-
Womens Workouts3 weeks ago
Keep Your Goals on Track This Season
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
Physicists have worked out how to melt any material
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
Single atoms captured morphing into quantum waves in startling image
You must be logged in to post a comment Login