A DROITWICH Spa housing association is urging its tenants to find out if they are eligible for a £135 discount on their energy bills.

Festival Housing, which has an office at the Royal Exchange, is promoting the Government’s Warm Home Discount Scheme.

Karen Adam, who has recently been appointed as Festival’s home energy advisor, said that she was keen for as many tenants as possible to take advantage of the initiative this winter and the deadline for applications was approaching.

“The Warm Home Discount Scheme is aimed at helping people on low incomes or vulnerable customers with their gas and electricity bills but many people are not aware of it and do not think that they qualify,” she said.

“If you are a pensioner eligible for the Warm Home Discount, the Department for Work and Pensions tries to make sure that you get the money automatically. But, if you missed out, you can ask for the discount directly from your supplier.

“Other people who may be eligible include those on a low income who have a disability, long-term illness or children, but one of the largest suppliers, British Gas, states that anyone on Jobseekers' Allowance or Income Support will qualify.

“So we would urge any of our tenants, of whatever age, to see if they can get the rebate, especially as the deadline for applications is fast approaching."

Eon has now closed its discount scheme and British Gas and Scottish Power close on January 31. SSE and NPower have not set deadlines yet.

British Gas are giving an extra £60 to customers who have qualified for the discount this year.