Help with fuel costs

Warm front grant (England only)

The warm front grant is available whether you own your own home or rent from a private landlord. You have to be in receipt of certain benefits to be eligible (the list includes Pension Credit and Disability Living Allowance) and the grant, normally up to a value of £2,700, could pay for improvements to insulation and/or central heating repairs and installation.

For further information call 0800 612 8735.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme Grants (Wales only)

This scheme can help you pay for heating and insulation improvements to your home if you are getting a disability or means tested benefit.

For more information call 0800 316 2815.

Warm Deal/Central Heating Programme Grants (Scotland only)

The Warm Deal scheme provides insulation improvements if you are disabled or on means tested benefits. The Central Heating Programme is available to all households who lack central heating (where the householder or partner is aged 60 or over) or who have partial or inefficient central heating systems (if aged 60 or over and in receipt of the guarantee element of Pension Credit).

For information on Warm Deal grants telephone 0800 072 0150 or for information on the Central Heating Programme grant telephone 0800 316 1653.

Warm Homes Scheme (Northern Ireland only)

The scheme helps to pay for heating and insulation improvements to your home if you are getting a disability or means tested benefit.

For more information call EAGA on 0800 181 667.

The Home Heating Helpline & Energy Savings Trust

The Home Heating Helpline (0800 33 66 99) and the Energy Savings Trust (0800 512 012) will give you tips on how to make energy savings around the home and advise you about grants and other assistance that may be available to you.

Winter fuel payments

Winter fuel payments are available to most people who are aged 60 or over. Most payments are made automatically around November time, but if you are not claiming a state pension or social security benefit you will need to make a claim for the payment.

This chart explains how much you will get:

Note: In 2008/9 there will be an additional one-off payment of £50 for households where people are 60 or over and an extra £100 where someone is 80 or over.

For further information call the winter fuel payment helpline on 08459 15 15 15.

Cold weather payments

If the temperature reaches freezing or below for seven consecutive days or more, those in receipt of certain means-tested benefits (if they include a disability or pensioner premium or people responsible for a child under the age of five, or those awarded Pension Credit), would also receive an automatic cold weather payment of £8.50 per week.

Dealing with large bills

If you have received a large fuel bill which you are unable to pay and fear you might be disconnected:

• Contact your fuel supplier to let them know of your concerns, and tell them about anyone in your household who is vulnerable because of age or poor health. There may be a possibility of changing your payment method or transferring to a different tariff.
• Since 2004 the Energy Retail Association has had a safety net scheme to ensure that vulnerable customers are not disconnected. The Home Heating Helpline (see above) will be able to tell you about the Priority Services Register which suppliers keep, so that you can ensure you receive priority treatment.
• If you are in receipt of Income Support, Pension Credit or income based Jobseekers Allowance and you are unable to pay your fuel bill, the ‘fuel direct’ system can help to avoid disconnection by allowing deductions to be made from your benefit and paid directly to the fuel supplier.
• If disconnection has taken place you may be able to apply for a Crisis Loan from the Social Fund to pay for reconnection. This loan is available in an emergency if you are without sufficient resources to meet the immediate short term needs of yourself and/or your family. Contact your local Jobcentre Plus office to apply for the loan.