State pensioners have just a few days left to secure £150 from British Gas, E.On, EDF or OVO Energy.

Though the £200 to £300 Winter Fuel Payment is sadly not going to be reinstated for the majority of pensioners following the Labour Budget announced on Wednesday, there is another handout that pensioners can claim and get added to their energy bills.

The Warm Homes Discount will see anyone who successfully claims get £150 credited to their energy account.

The scheme is actually split between England and Wales and Scotland. Those in England and Wales will get the money automatically, but those in Scotland must apply for it.

Between now and December the government will send letters to those who qualify for the scheme, but in order to be eligible you need to have claimed one of the right means tested benefits in August.

According to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, you need to have claimed the Guaranteed Credit Element of Pension Credit, Income Support, Income based Jobseekers Allowance, Income related employment and support allowance, Housing Benefit, Universal Credit, Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit on August 11.

But if you weren’t claiming Pension Credit by that date there is still a way you can get the money – by backdating your claim.

Pension Credit claims can be backdated by three months, but time is running out even for that – you need to make your successful claim by Sunday, November 10.

Then, you’ll successfully get the money backdated to cover the August 11 qualifying date, and you’ll get the £300 Winter Fuel Payment from the DWP AND the £150 Warm Homes Discount from your energy supplier, as well as possibly more money on top from Pension Credit, which usually tops up your pension income to about £218 per week.