Newer version available

There is a newer version of this publication available:
Fuel Rights Handbook 21st edition

5. Fuel Direct

Fuel Direct, which is the Department for Work and Pension’s ‘third party deduction system’, allows an amount to be deducted from your benefit entitlement and paid directly to your energy supplier. Payment for fuel arrears plus ongoing consumption, or for fuel arrears only (if you have a prepayment meter), is deducted directly from benefit. Deductions are made on a weekly basis from benefit payments and are paid to the supplier once every 28 days, or monthly if you are on universal credit. See here for details.