Keeping your home warm in the winter can be expensive. The fuel poverty charity NEA estimates that around 4 million UK households are unable to afford sufficient heating, and around 8500 deaths in the winter of 2019/20 were caused by cold homes.
If you are an older person, are on a low income or receive certain benefits, you may be eligible for financial support with your heating bills.
Winter Fuel Payment
Winter Fuel Payment is an annual lump payment to help you to heat your home in the winter.
How much is it?
The payment is between £250 and £600, depending on your age, who you live with and if you receive Pension Credit, income-based JSA, income-related ESA or Income Support.
If you live in a care home, you could still receive a payment if you do not claim any of the above benefits.
Payments are usually made in November and December.
Who is eligible?
You may be eligible if:
- You were born on or before 25 September 1956 (this is for the winter of 2022/23, the qualifying birth date changes each year).
- You live in the UK for at least one day during the ‘qualifying week’. For the winter of 2022-2023, this will be 19-25 September 2022.
- You don’t qualify if you live in a UK prison for all of the qualifying week.
- If you don’t live in the UK during the qualifying week, you could also be eligible if you live in Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or any EU country AND have lived, worked or have family who live and work in the UK. Countries that do not qualify include France, Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Portugal, Gibraltar and Malta, because they’re hot.
- You don’t qualify if you need permission to enter the UK and are not allowed to claim public funds.
If you are eligible and receive either State Pension or a social security benefit (not including Universal Credit, Child Benefit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction), you will receive Winter Fuel Payment automatically and don’t need to claim it separately.
How to claim
You should get this payment automatically, if you’re eligible, but if you think you are and would like to claim, you can contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre. You might need to provide your National Insurance Number.
Telephone
Inside the UK: 0800 731 0160
Outside the UK: +44 (0)191 218 7280
Relay UK (if you can’t hear or speak): dial 18001 then 0800 731 0160
Complete this email enquiry form.
Post
Write to:
Winter Fuel Payment Centre
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 1LR (or WV98 1ZU if writing from outside the UK)
UK
Warm Home Discount Scheme
The Warm Home Discount Scheme works with energy suppliers to give you a discount on your electricity bill for the winter.
If your electricity supplier also supplies you with gas, you could get a discount on your gas bill instead.
How much is it?
You could save £140.
Who is eligible?
You could be eligible if you either:
- Receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit
- Or you’re on a low income
Your energy supplier must be part of the scheme for you to receive the Warm Home Discount. There are lots of participating energy suppliers, some of the biggest include:
- British Gas
- Scottish Power
- SSE
- Octopus Energy
- E.ON
- npower
- Shell Energy
- EDF Energy
- Sainsbury’s Energy
- OVO
- Utilita
- Utility Warehouse
- Spark
- Green Network Energy
- Boost
If your energy supplier isn’t on this list, it’s worth checking with them as they may well be part of the scheme and be happy to give you a Warm Home Discount to help with your gas and electricity bills.
How to claim
The opening date has not yet been announced for 2022.
If you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, you should get a letter between October and December telling you how to apply.
If you don’t get the letter, or otherwise think you’re eligible and would like to apply, you can contact the Warm Home Discount Scheme.
Telephone
0800 731 0214
Post
Write to:
Warm Home Discount
Blue Zone, Ground Floor Phase 1
Peel Park
Brunel Way
Blackpool
FY4 5ES
If you live in a mobile or park home, the application process is different. The exact date that the scheme will be open for mobile or park homes, for the winter of 2022/23, isn’t set yet, but it will open at some point this autumn. To be notified when it opens, fill in this form.
You can also find out more about the scheme for mobile and park homes by contacting Charis Grants on 0330 555 9424.
Cold Weather Payment
If the temperature where you live drops below 0 degrees celcius (27 degrees farenheit) for 7 consecutive days or more, you could get some money to help to pay towards heating your home.
How much is it?
The payment is £25 for each 7 day period of below-freezing weather where you live, between 1 November and 31 March.
You can check how many payments are available in your area by typing in your postcode here.
Who is eligible?
You could be eligible if you receive:
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit and you’re employed or self-employed and either:
- Have a child under 5 who lives with you
- Or have a health condition or disability that limits your capacity to work
- Income support or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance and have:
- A disabled child
- A child under 5 who lives with you
- A disability or pensioner premium
- Or receive Child Tax Credit that includes a disability element
- Income-related Employment Support Allowance and you are in a work-related support group or have:
- A disabled child
- A child under 5 who lives with you
- An enhanced or severe disability premium
- A pensioner premium
- Child Tax credit that includes an enhanced or severe disability element
- Support for Mortgage Interest have:
- A disabled child
- A child under 5 who lives with you
- An enhanced or severe disability premium
- A pensioner premium
- Child Tax credit that includes an enhanced or severe disability element
How to claim
The scheme for the winter of 2022/23 will open at some point in the autumn.
You don’t need to apply, you’ll receive the payment automatically if you’re eligible.
National Concessionary Fuel Scheme
If you are an ex-employee of the National Coal Board or the British Coal Corporation, or the widow or widower of one, you could get free solid fuel (such as wood or coal) or money for fuel.
How much is it?
You could get solid fuel delivered to your home every few weeks, or a payment every 3 months.
Who is eligible?
You could be eligible if you are:
- An ex-employee of the National Coal Board or the British Coal Corporation
- The widow or widower of an ex-employee of the National Coal Board or the British Coal Corporation
Certain changes, such as remarrying, could affect your eligibility.
How to claim
To claim, contact the National Concessionary Fuel Office.
Telephone
0345 759 0529 or 0370 386 9961
ncfo@capta.co.uk
Post
National Concessionary Fuel Office
PO Box 64
Sheffield
S1 1XL
Fuel Direct
If you are in receipt of certain benefits and are struggling with debt to your energy supplier, you may be able to have your heating bills partially or fully paid for directly from your benefits. This means the benefits you receive in your bank account will be lower each month while some of the money goes directly to paying off the debt. The deduction will also pay towards your current energy bill.
Eligible benefits include:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-related Employment Support Allowance
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
To apply, speak to your nearest Jobcentre Plus, or the Pension Service if you receive Pension Credit.
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