MILLIONS of households nationwide can claim several cold weather payments to help with heating costs this winter.
It comes after an Arctic blast has brought more snow flurries and chilly weather across vast swathes of the country.
1
When temperatures drop, it’s only natural to want to turn up your thermostat.
But with the price of energy bills for the average home standing at £1,928 a year, you’ll want to do everything you can to cut costs.
Luckily, there’s a host of help available for hard-up Brits right now
From cold weather payments dubbed “lifesaving” by recipients to energy bill grants worth up to £1,500 that can help clear customer debts – here are several ways you can get energy bill help.
Read more in money
Energy grants – up to £1,500
A number of energy firms offer grants to customers struggling to pay their bills.
But what you are entitled to varies depending on who your provider is.
British Gas offers grants worth up to £1,500 while households with Scottish Power can get up to £750.
Meanwhile, those with Octopus Energy can claim up to £500 via the firm’s Octo Assist Fund.
Most read in Money
Ask your supplier what’s on offer and how to apply.
Household support fund – up to £1,000
Local councils are giving out cash to help households struggling with bills and other essential costs.
Three key benefits that YOU could be missing out on, and one even gives you a free TV Licence
How much you can get depends on where you live.
To qualify you’ll usually need to be a recipient of council tax support.
You can search for yours using the search tool on gov.uk – just enter your postcode.
Local councils also offer welfare assistance schemes all year round that can help you with bills.
Cash for rent – up to £965
A Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) is money from your council to help if you’re struggling to pay for rent.
Anyone claiming housing benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit could qualify.
But what you could be entitled to depends on where you live as each local authority decides how much to dish out.
The Sun previously found the average DHP was £965, based on freedom of information requests sent to 30 of the biggest councils.
But the maximum amount you could get was worth up to £32,000 in total.
We’ve rounded up everything you need to know about who can get the cash and how to claim.
Cost of living payment – worth £299
Millions of households on benefits, including Universal Credit, will receive the £299 payment directly into their bank accounts between now and February 22.
Some households may have already received their cash as it started being dished out on February 6.
Those eligible for the tax-free payment won’t have to do anything as it will be made automatically.
But, there are some who won’t be eligible for the help such as those on PIP and Child Benefit.
We’ve previously explained which benefits don’t qualify for the £299 one-off cost of living payment.
You’ll only be able to receive the free cash if you’re in receipt of at least one of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based jobseekers allowance
- Income-related employment and support allowance
- Income support
- Working tax credit
- Child tax credit
- Pension credit
You need to have been entitled to a payment of any of the qualifying benefits above between November 13 and December 12 to be eligible for the free cash.
If you were later found between the same dates, you will also be eligible for the payment too.
Households on tax credits will only receive their payment from HMRC after those on DWP-managed benefits are paid.
This ensures that those on other benefits and tax credits will not get the payment twice.
This payment will be made between February 16 and February 22.
The payment reference for bank accounts will be the recipient’s National Insurance number followed by DWP COL or HMRC COLS.
For example, if your NI number is JT 83 42 97B your payment will show up as “JT 83 42 97B DWP COLP” or “JT 83 42 97B HMRC COLP” on your bank statement.
Warm home discount – worth £150
Households can get £150 off their electricity bill for winter 2023 to 2024 through the Warm Home Discount scheme.
The money is not paid to you but is a one-off discount applied to your electricity bill between October and March every year.
In most cases, you’ll get the discount automatically if you’re eligible.
You only need to apply if you’re on a low income in Scotland and must contact your supplier directly.
You will be eligible for the automatic discount if you receive any of the following benefits:
Payments for the £150 Warm Home Discount scheme began in December but firms have until March to issue all remaining payments.
It’s up to individual energy companies to decide when they will give their customers the discount.
Fuel vouchers – worth £50
If you’re on a prepayment meter you might be able to get a one-off voucher to top up.
It comes via the Fuel Bank Foundation charity, and is offered through a range of organisations like food banks and Citizens Advice.
The best place to start to find somewhere which can offer you a fuel voucher is by asking your local council.
The voucher should help you cover around two weeks’ worth of electricity use.
Some energy companies may also issue their own vouchers, so ask your supplier directly.
Cold weather payment – £25 a week
Cold weather payments are dished out when temperatures are recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees or below, on average, for seven consecutive days.
When temperatures drop between November 1 and March 31, eligible Brits are entitled to extra money to heat their homes.
You get £25 for each seven-day period where the weather is below zero Celsius on average during this time frame.
You can check if your area has had a cold weather payment by popping your postcode into the government’s tool on its website.
You’ll need to be on certain benefits to qualify, which are:
- Pension credit
- Income support
- Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
- Income-related employment and support allowance
- Universal Credit
- Support for mortgage interest
Cold Weather payments are issued between November 1 and March 31 every year.
Those in Scotland don’t get cold weather payments but may be able to receive a winter heating payment instead.
Fuel vouchers – worth £50
If you’re on a prepayment meter you might be able to get a one-off voucher to top up.
The fuel voucher scheme comes via the Fuel Bank Foundation charity, and it’s offered through a range of organisations, like food banks and Citizens Advice.
The best place to start to find somewhere which can offer you a fuel voucher is by asking your local council – you can find yours via gov.uk by searching your postcode.
The voucher should help you cover around two weeks’ worth of electricity use.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Some energy companies may also issue their own vouchers, so ask your supplier directly.
This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk
