Problems with £600 vouchers

It has emerged that customers are facing problems with the Energy Bills Support Scheme and Alternative Fuel Payment NI vouchers issued to Power NI customers.

In response to issues with the Power NI issued vouchers, Derry Against Fuel Poverty spokesperson Sinead Quinn said: "There was quite a long queue of people stretched outside of the General Post Office in Derry today to collect their £600 government cost of living support.

"This queue was actually shorter than it might have been on account of 'system issues' with Power NI customers vouchers that saw those customers turned away at the counter.

"Power NI are said to be working on the problem and we call on Power NI to provide updates to the customers directly affected by this issue."

"It is deeply unfair and undignified that people on lower incomes, in and out of work, are faced to brace the freezing temperatures to access this money when many on higher incomes will get it sent straight to their bank accounts. People who are not fit to queue will still do so because they need the money. Not all chronically ill and disabled people, or pensioners, have someone they can turn to who will stand in a queue on their behalf," said Ms Quinn.

Sinead Quinn added that the problems sent a bigger message to the working and non-working poor, 'Get used to queueing and handouts'.

She added: "This cruel Tory government think it is acceptable that we wait until breaking point, queue until it hurts and still struggle to survive afterwards.

"It breaks my heart in 2022 to see scenes like these. I remember my mother telling me stories, as a child, about how in 'the olden days', poor people queued outside churches for alms. Now, the churches rarely even pray for the poor even when they fill their collection baskets on a Sunday, or every day of the week in some cases.

"We need an end to these 'schemes' which are created as one-off tokens so that government can ignore a problem that continues to get bigger every day. We need to see all members of our society with an income that encourages the ability to thrive not just barely survive. We need to bridge the growing gap between those who have plenty and those who have little.

"There are many reasons why ending poverty is important - it costs our public services and damages the economy. But more importantly, because every single person in our society has a basic human right to live with dignity. It's about time our politicians, and our government, did the right thing and eradicated poverty for good."

SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin said Power NI was working to address an ongoing issue around the £600 energy support payment.

After contacting Power NI on behalf of her constituents, Ms McLaughlin was told there is an ongoing technical issue and it was hoped it could be resolved quickly.

Ms McLaughlin said: “Given the long waits facing people right across the North to receive their £600 energy support payment, it’s understandable that people are concerned after trying to redeem their voucher at the Post Office only to be told that there was an ongoing issue impacting payments.

“After learning of these problems from a number of constituents today I contacted Power NI on their behalf who confirmed that there is a technical issue with the company’s systems linking up with the Post Office. They reassured me that a team are currently working on rectifying the issues and hope to have the situation resolved as quickly as possible.

“I will continue liaising with Power NI until the issues are fixed."