Yesterday EDF confirmed I will shortly be in receipt of £140 off this winters fuel costs.
Check below if you can too!
Winter fuel payment
If you were born on or before 5 August 1953 you could get between £100 to £300 to help you pay your heating bills. This is known as a ‘Winter Fuel Payment’. You usually get a Winter Fuel Payment automatically if you’re eligible and you get the State Pension or another social security benefit (not Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit or Universal Credit). Any money you get won’t affect your other benefits. If you’re eligible but not in receipt of it you will need to make a claim.
Warm home discount scheme
If you don’t qualify for that other help is available such as through the warm Home discount scheme.
You could get £140 off your electricity bill for winter 2017 to 2018 under the Warm Home Discount Scheme. The money isn’t paid to you – it’s a one-off discount on your electricity bill, between September and March. You may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead if your supplier provides you with both gas and electricity. Contact your supplier to find out.
There are 2 ways to qualify for the Warm Home Discount Scheme:
- you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit – known as the ‘core group’
- you’re on a low income and meet your energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme – known as the ‘broader group’ see link below to see if your supplier supports the scheme.
You may be able to apply directly to your electricity supplier for help if you don’t get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit but:
- your supplier is part of the scheme check here —- energy supplier is part of the scheme
- you’re on a low income
- you get certain means-tested benefit which allow you to qualify for help from your supplier.
Cold weather payment
Finally there is one final way to get help although it’s got to get jolly cold to apply
You may get a Cold Weather Payment if you’re getting certain benefits.
You’ll get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below for 7 consecutive days.
The Cold Weather Payment scheme runs from 1 November to 31 March. Check if you can get a payment in your area.
You’ll get a payment of £25 for each 7 day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March.
If you need help finding out if you can receive help pop in the drop-in centre and we can help.
