People on benefits including Universal Credit can get FREE energy gadgets to cut bills – check if you qualify in 5 mins

BENEFITS claimants can get free gadgets fitted in their homes to help them cut their energy bills.

Octopus Energy is offering to install solar panels and heat pumps in up to 1,000 homes entirely for free.

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Under the Government's Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme, energy suppliers must help struggling and vulnerable households to heat their homes.

This includes helping customers reduce their energy usage, for example by installing insulation or upgrading their heating system.

It comes as millions of households will see their energy bills hiked by 2% to £1,755 this autumn.

The new price cap, confirmed by regulator Ofgem today, comes in from October 1.

It means a household using a typical amount of energy will pay £35.14 more per year.

Octopus says that by switching to its heat pump, a typical home with medium usage could save £369 a year.

Homes with high usage could save a massive £496 a year.

But while the savings can be huge, it usually costs about £4,400 to get a heat pump.

It means many poorer households are unable to stump up the upfront cost.

Solar panels could knock between £190 to £350 off your bills, according to Energy Saving Trust estimates.

But they cost an average of £6,100, so again the initial cost can be too much for many households.

If you had both a heat pump and solar panels installed for free, you'd save yourself £10,500 on the upfront cost alone.

Plus you would then have the extra savings of up to £846 a year.

You could qualify for the help from Octopus if you:

• Receive government support such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit
• Live in a home built between 1980–2022
• Have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E or below

You don't have to be an Octopus customer to qualify.

The energy supplier is also delivering £1million worth of support to customers every month through its Octo Assist Fund.

This includes giving struggling households:

• Energy bill credits – direct financial support for households in crisis, often within 48 hours
• Standing charge holidays – up to six months with no standing charges for vulnerable customers
• Debt relief and debt matching schemes
• Free tools like heat loss cameras and electric blankets
• Energy flexibility schemes like Free Electricity and Saving Sessions – with £10.5million paid out so far

People struggling with bills are urged to reach out now via https://octopus.energy/blog/octo-assist/.

Rebecca Dibb-Simkin, chief product officer at Octopus Energy, said: "We know this winter will be tough, with bills stubbornly high.

"Octopus are boosting our own support and urging people to help friends and family take advantage of home upgrades under the ECO scheme - we're committing to upgrade 1,000 homes, entirely for free."

If you are struggling with your energy bills, there are several ways you can get support.

For example, the Winter Fuel Allowance offers £300 to pensioners to help cover the cost of their heating during colder months.

Around 75% of pensioners are expected to receive the support this year, after Labour’s U-turn on the tighter eligibility criteria it announced last winter.

Plus, struggling families can get access to money for their energy bills through the Household Support Fund (HSF).

Each council in England has been allocated a share of the £742million fund and can distribute it to residents in need.

Exactly how much you can get and how the money will be paid depends on your council and situation.

Meanwhile, thousands of households will receive the £150 Warm Home Discount.

The cash grant is means tested and is given to households on a low income or claiming certain benefits, such as Universal Credit.

If you are falling behind on your energy bill then may also be able to get help from your energy supplier.

British Gas has a £140million support package to help customers facing financial hardship.

This includes free energy grants, tailored support for households and small business customers and funding for advice centres and charities.

It has also launched You Pay: We Pay, which gives households the opportunity to have their payments matched by British Gas for a period of six months.