Financial help to heat your home
If you are struggling financially to heat your home there are grants available to help you make your home more energy efficient.
The Warm Front Scheme is targeted at people on certain income-related benefits and living in properties that are poorly insulated and/or do not have a working central heating system. You must own your home or rent it from a private landlord. The Warm Front scheme is only available in England. You may be eligible for insulation and heating improvements to your home based on a surveyor visit which will make recommendations as to those most appropriate for your home.
For up-to-date information see the webpage www.warmfront.co.uk/index.htm .
To contact Warm Front for more information you can call 0800 316 2805 (or textphone 0800 072 0156). Lines are open Monday to Friday 8.00am to 6.00pm and Saturday 9.00am to 5.00pm. You can also e-mail your contact details to the address: enquiry@eaga.com . An adviser will then call you back.
Cold Weather Payments
Cold weather payments are made during periods of very cold weather, to help people pay for extra heating costs. The average temperature where you live must be recorded as 0°C or below for seven days in a row.
If you think you should be in receipt of this payment, but are not, then contact Jobcentre plus on 0800 055 6688 or visit www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk .
Warm Homes Discount
Energy companies are required by governemnt to provide discounts for their most vulnerable customers. The Warm Homes Discount is worth £120 and is paid in the form of a reduction directly off the customers bill or in the case of prepayment meters, via a voucher or added directly on to a prepayment card when it is recharged. Those in receipt of the Gauranteed Credit component of the Pension Credit will receive the benefit automatically and need take no further action.
Those in the 'Broader Group' which includes anyone in receipt of the Savings Credit component of the pension credit as well as those on a means tested benefit (Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance [ESA]) that includes either a disability premium or those that have parental responsibility for a child under 5 need to apply to their energy supplier before the end of January 2012.
Payments to the Broader Group are on a first come, first served basis so if you think you may be eligible speak to your energy supplier as soon as possible. For more information ring our helpline number.
Help from your energy provider
Energy suppliers provide information and help including reduced or social tariffs, energy efficiency advice and the priority service register, which gives extra assistance to customers who have disabilities or long-term health conditions.
Contact your energy supplier for further details. You'll find contact details on your most recent energy bill.
Social tariffs
Since the introduction of the Warm Homes Discount most energy suppliers have closed their social tariffs to new customers and are in the process of moving existing customers on to other tariffs. At present only two energy suppliers are still operating social tariffs, they are WarmAssist from E.on and EnergyAssist from EDF. Anyone over 60 or in reciept of the benefits mentioned in connection with the Warm Homes Discount or on a low income, that is with either E.on or EDF should contact their energy supplier immediately for further details.
