Households in Northern Ireland will receive a £400 payment to help with energy costs in the autumn, according to chancellor Nadhim Zahavi.
r Zahavi will visit the region on Wednesday and hold meetings with politicians and the utility regulator.
Last month, the Westminster Government revealed details of an energy support scheme that will see UK households receive more than £60 off their electricity bills each month over the winter as part of cost-of-living support measures.
The money, which is part of a package announced in May this year, will flow in six tranches over six months to some 29 million households.
Households will see £66 off their electricity bills in October and November and £67 between December and March, the government said.
However, due to the current political impasse, there was uncertainty about whether the money could be given to households.
The region currently has no functioning executive or assembly due to the DUP’s protest against the Northern Ireland Protocol after leaving the EU.
In a statement, Mr Zahavi said the government was “absolutely committed” to getting the payments here.
Despite, an announcement on the payments is not expected to be made this week.
“I know families across Northern Ireland are feeling anxious about rising costs and the UK Government has stepped in to ease the pressure on household budgets,” he said in a statement.
“We delivered an unprecedented level of support in July with National Insurance cuts that will put £330 back into workers’ pockets this year, while many of Northern Ireland’s most vulnerable households have already received their first £650 payment of life.
“Not only will the second tranche of this payment arrive this autumn, I have made it clear that we are determined to deliver a £400 discount on electricity bills to Northern Ireland as soon as possible to ease the burden on families. “
Communities Minister on Tuesday Deirdre Hargie said any workarounds to get the money “will take some time to try and work through.”
“These payments have had to go into people’s bank accounts, as other fuel support payments have started, and we have to do everything we can, working with the Treasury, working with the British government, to do that in the absence of others, unwilling to form a government,” — she said.
“This one-off payment of £400 will not be enough.
“That will help, but this winter is going to be bleak for many low-income families and workers, and that’s why we need an incumbent.
“It took time to try to find a workaround, and people are struggling here and now.”
