By Lucy Ashton
Jackie Baillie has urged thousands of people in Dumbarton, the Vale of Leven, Balloch, Helensburgh and Lomond on prepayment meters to claim cost of living support before the deadline on June 30th.
Latest figures show that, despite the fact that Scotland is in the Hungry Twenties, in West Dunbartonshire, 6590 households are still to claim support they are entitled to through the Energy Bill Support Scheme.
These vouchers are designed to provide bill support for those on non-digital pre-payment meters – however, the deadline for redeeming them is the end of this month and many have gone unclaimed.
In total, £434,940 worth of support in West Dunbartonshire has gone unclaimed.
In Argyll and Bute, the figure was even higher with 8150 unredeemed vouchers estimated to be around £537,900.
Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie and an old pre-payment meter.
Vouchers were sent out to households with non-digital pre-payment meters by post, email or text message. Anyone whose voucher hasn’t arrived, or is lost or expired can ask their supplier for a new one to be issued.
Dumbarton constituency MSP Jackie Baillie said: “Almost 15,000 families across West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute are at risk of being short-changed without action.
“Bills are soaring and it is vital that people can get the support to which they are entitled.
“Anyone with a voucher they haven’t used needs to redeem it by June 30th so they don’t miss out.
“We urgently need more action from both the UK and the Scottish governments to help people through this cost of living crisis, and to ensure everyone can get what they are entitled to.”
| Local authority | Number of unredeemed vouchers
|
Approx value of unredeemed vouchers* |
| Aberdeen City | 16,890 | £1,114,740.00 |
| Aberdeenshire | 9,890 | £652,740.00 |
| Angus | 6,540 | £431,640.00 |
| Argyll and Bute | 8,150 | £537,900.00 |
| City of Edinburgh | 20,820 | £1,374,120.00 |
| Clackmannanshire | 1,900 | £125,400.00 |
| Dumfries and Galloway | 6,770 | £446,820.00 |
| Dundee City | 13,200 | £871,200.00 |
| East Ayrshire | 5,720 | £377,520.00 |
| East Dunbartonshire | 1,880 | £124,080.00 |
| East Lothian | 3,050 | £201,300.00 |
| East Renfrewshire | 1,710 | £112,860.00 |
| Falkirk | 6,670 | £440,220.00 |
| Fife | 13,830 | £912,780.00 |
| Glasgow City | 46,670 | £3,080,220.00 |
| Highland | 16,900 | £1,115,400.00 |
| Inverclyde | 5,250 | £346,500.00 |
| Midlothian | 2,330 | £153,780.00 |
| Moray | 4,590 | £302,940.00 |
| Na h-Eileanan Siar | 3,730 | £246,180.00 |
| North Ayrshire | 6,960 | £459,360.00 |
| North Lanarkshire | 17,750 | £1,171,500.00 |
| Orkney Islands | 1,640 | £108,240.00 |
| Perth and Kinross | 7,430 | £490,380.00 |
| Renfrewshire | 10,520 | £694,320.00 |
| Scottish Borders | 4,800 | £316,800.00 |
| Shetland Islands | 1,390 | £91,740.00 |
| South Ayrshire | 4,700 | £310,200.00 |
| South Lanarkshire | 13,690 | £903,540.00 |
| Stirling | 2,950 | £194,700.00 |
| West Dunbartonshire | 6,590 | £434,940.00 |
| West Lothian | 6,070 | £400,620.00 |
Source: Ofgem via Energy Action Scotland
*based on £66 value.