The Independent, on UK Politics, 8 November 2026

0.0out of 10Nothing found

Nearly 700,000 low-income households to miss £100 energy payment

No framing issues found.

Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today. Join today Already a member? Log in Nearly 700,000 low-income households to miss £100 energy payment Albert Toth Sunday 08 November 2026 09:39 GMT Bookmark popover Removed from bookmarks Close popover Experts give their verdict on the 2026 Budget About 3.5 million of the UK’s wealthiest households are set to receive Labour ’s £100 Household Energy Payment, totalling £350 million in government funding.

At the same time, analysis by The Independent and the Resolution Foundation found that nearly 700,000 of the poorest households will miss out on the support. More than 20 million households in council tax bands A to D will automatically receive the rebate on their energy bills from January, at a total cost of £2.5 billion. Critics argue that linking eligibility to outdated 1991 council tax bands leaves 1.4 million low-income families without help while benefiting wealthy homeowners.

The government defended the scheme as the fastest way to distribute funds, pointing to wider support, including the £150 Warm Home Discount. In full Labour’s ‘absurd’ energy bill scheme to give £350m to the richest households

Read the original article on independent.co.uk (opens in a new tab)
About this analysis

The Independent reports its own analysis with the Resolution Foundation that about 3.5 million of the wealthiest households will get Labour's £100 energy payment while nearly 700,000 of the poorest will not. It attributes the criticism of the council tax band rule to critics and gives the government's defence. Nothing in it misleads the reader.

What it gets right

  • “analysis by The Independent and the Resolution Foundation found”

    The Independent names the source of its headline figure, so the reader knows the 700,000 count comes from its own analysis with a named think tank and not from an unsourced assertion.

  • “Critics argue that linking eligibility to outdated 1991 council tax bands”

    The Independent attributes the contested claim about who loses out to critics, keeping it out of the outlet's own voice.

  • “The government defended the scheme as the fastest way to distribute funds”

    The Independent gives the government's reply and points to the Warm Home Discount, so the party under criticism has its case put to the reader.

Spot something we missed? Report this article

More from The Independent

  1. 8 NovNandy acknowledges ‘trade-offs’ for Britain if it gets closer to EU0.0
  2. 8 NovUK to officially rejoin the Erasmus+ scheme, Nandy says3.0
  3. 8 NovBurnham claims closer food and farming ties with EU will help cut cost of living0.0
  4. 8 NovAndy Burnham claims closer EU ties will help with cost of living0.0
  5. 8 NovVeterans and politicians to remember fallen at Edinburgh remembrance service0.0

Everything we scored from The Independent