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Tips to save money
You may be able to get a grant to help with costs associated with insulation and heating.
Click to go straight to more information on:
Warm Front Scheme
Grants from your local council
Reducing your fuel bills - Home Heat Helpline
Warm Front Scheme (WFS)
A government-funded scheme in England and Wales aimed at improving the warmth of homes that are affected by fuel poverty (spending more than 10% of disposable income on heating).
You can be awarded:
£2,700 or up to £4,000 if your home needs oil-fired central heating
Check whether you are eligible:
If you have a child under 16 or are at least 26 weeks pregnant, have
a maternity certificate MAT B1 and also receive one or more of the following
benefits you could get a Warm Front grant:
• Income Support
• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Benefit
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Pension Credit
OR
If you own or privately rent your home and receive one or more of the
following benefits:
• Working Tax Credit (with a disability element and a household
income less than £15,050)
• Child Tax Credit (with a household income less than £15,050
a year)
• Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance
• Income Support (which must include a disability element)
• Housing Benefit (which must include a disability element)
• Council Tax Benefit (which must include a disability element)
• War Disablement Pension (which must include the mobility supplement
or Constant Attendance Allowance)
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (which must include constant
attendance allowance)
OR
If you are aged 60 or over, and receive any of the following benefits:
• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Benefit
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Pension Credit
What the Warm Front Grant can be used for:
Depending on your individual circumstances, the grant may be used for
Insulation
• loft insulation
• draught proofing
• cavity-wall insulation
• hot-water-tank insulation
Heating systems
• gas room heaters with thermostat controls
• gas, electric or oil central heating
• converting a solid-fuel open fire to a modern glass-fronted fire
• timer controls for electric space and water heaters
Other measures
• energy advice
• two low-energy light bulbs
Phone for more information about applying:
You can find out over the phone whether you qualify. Then you will need to complete an application form, before an adviser visits you to assess the works that are needed to make your home warmer.
Freephone 0800 316 6011, textphone 0800 072 0156 These freephone numbers are run by the Eaga Partnership, who manager the Warm Front Scheme. The lines are open from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm, Monday to Friday.
From your local council
If your income is low, the local authority may be able to give you a grant for:
• improving your home, including insulation
• if you or a member of your household is disabled, to fit your
home with equipment to make life easier
• getting small repair jobs done
You need to contact your local authority to find out how to apply.
Organisations such as Age Concern or Mencap may be able to help with the paperwork.
If you apply for a grant, don’t start any work before the application is approved.
The council may send someone to inspect the premises - get their ID before you let them in.
Avoid the scary fuel bills...
• Don't set the thermostat that controls your heating higher than 20°C (68°F). Thermostats are often in silly places, like the entrance hall, so keep an eye on the actual temperature in your living room (keep a thermometer in there). You may find that the temperature there is well over 20°C as the boiler is trying to heat your draughty hall up to the required temperature... Experiment with reducing the temperature on the thermostat until you find the right balance, to keep the room you are actually using warm enough.
• Set your heating system to come on before you get up in the morning, and go off when you go to bed.
• Only turn on the radiator to warm your bedroom before you go to bed - an hour or so should do, depending on the weather outside. Warm your bed as well, with a hot water bottle or an electric blanket.
• Keep your bedroom window closed at night - keeping the bedroom
door open will give you sufficient ventilation.
• If you have an open coal fire keep it well filled up – about
3 to 4 inches (70-100mm), and use the air control to make it burn higher
or lower.
• Have your chimney swept once a year, so that it burns efficently
and safely. For more tips, you can call the Solid Fuel Association for
free on 0800 600 000.
• You can get help with winter home heating bills:
1. Winter Fuel Payment
2. Cold Weather Payment
Budget Schemes
For anyone who is worried about paying the gas or electricity bill, there is a free Home Heat Helpline which you can call yourself, or on behalf of a relative, friend or patient. The number is 0800 33 66 99 and it is open from 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 2pm on Saturdays. The minicom number is 0800 027 2122.
The electricity and gas companies have payment schemes which enable people
to spread payments more evenly over the year instead of having them peak
in winter. Ask your supplier for details.
If you run into problems with paying your gas or electricity bills, let
the supplier know quickly before the amount builds up. They’ll want
to help find a solution, perhaps by spreading out repayments. They won’t
disconnect all-pensioner households in the winter.