IF your struggling with energy costs in the cold weather, help could be at hand this Winter.
Many households are set to see their energy bills go up by 2% to £1,755 this Autumn.
There’s a host of help on offer this winter including free electric blankets[/caption]
The new energy price cap came into effect on October 1 and will see bills increase by £35.14 per year for households using a typical amount of energy.
With the cold months drawing in, most households will start using more energy to keep warm.
But you might not be aware there are a host of freebies on offer to help you tackle you bills.
Free electric blankets and money-saving gadgets
Energy giant Octopus have identified customers with medical vulnerabilities to receive a free electric blanket.
As part of a similar scheme you can also loan a thermal camera for free to find draughts around your home, and can be offered suggestions in how to fix them.
And benefits claimants can get free gadgets fitted in their homes to help them cut their energy bills.
Octopus Energy is offering to install solar panels and heat pumps in up to 1,000 homes entirely for free.
OVO Energy is also handing out free blankets and smart sockets to help customers with rising energy bills this winter.
The energy company is offering extra support, in the form of a energy efficiency upgrades, loft insulation’s and new boilers.
Free Boilers
Thousands of households can qualify for a free boiler.
The ECO Free Boiler Scheme from the Government helps to aid low income households.
Automatic qualification is granted to people receiving the following support and allowances:
- Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
- State Pension Credit (In receipt of Pension Credit Guarantee Credit or both Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit)
- Disability Living Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefits
- War Pensions Mobility Supplement
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
If you do not receive one of the automatic qualifications, you will need to receive Tax Credits, Universal Credit or Child Benefit that meets the ‘household composition.’
If you unsure if you would qualify or require further information you can go to the free boiler scheme website.
Free solar panels
Some councils offer low-income households money towards making there home greener.
You can get help if you earn less than £31,000 and receive one of the following benefits:
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit
- Pension Guarantee Credit
- Pension Savings Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Child Benefit
- Housing Benefit
You can apply with your energy company for up to £10,000 of funding.
You can also receive help for air source heat pumps, electric storage heaters, loft and wall insulation and smart heating controls.
Your house must be rated D or lower for energy efficiency to receive help.
Octopus Energy is also offering to install solar panels and heat pumps in up to 1,000 homes entirely for free.
Free energy-efficient showerheads
A number of water companies offer households free water and energy saving gadgets like regulated shower heads worth £20.
Southern Water provides water-saving devices like efficient shower heads during home visits and through the Get Water Fit App.
Severn Trent Water hands out free shower heads and timers,to customers in its service areas.
The shower head helps save water and gas, money and efficiency.
To get hold of the money-saving shower heads, contact your local water company and head to the save water save money website to purchase a shower head after filling out your water usage.
Household support Fund
This years fund is worth £742million and has been distributed to councils across the country
Eligibility criteria varies based on where you live but usually help is offered to those on benefits or a low income.
The amount you received dpeneds on where you live.
For example, households in Doncaster can apply for support worth £300.
While, families in Nottingham can apply for £98 energy vouchers and £75 supermarket vouchers.
Meanwhile, if you are of state pension age you could also be entitled to a £300 cash boost to put towards your energy bill.
The scheme runs until the end of March and the money will be sent by the Post Office with a letter telling you how to collect the money
For more information on how to claim and how much is on offer in your area, you can visit www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/how-to-claim.
Cold Weather Payment
Households on Universal Credit and other benefits can get a free payment every time it is cold this winter.
Cold Weather Payments is a type of support set up by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to help with energy costs when temperatures drop.
To be eligible for the support you must be claiming certain benefits such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Support for Mortgage Interest.
Temperatures also must hit zero degrees Celsius or below over 7 consecutive days for the sum to be paid out.
You do not need to apply for the scheme as the money will be paid into anyone who qualifies account within 14 days.
If you meet the requirements, you will receive £25 for each seven day period of incredibly cold weather.
Warm home discount
Households can get a £150 payment to help with the cost of energy bills.
To be eligible for the discount, you need to have been claiming one of seven means-tested benefits on a specific date – August 24:
- Guaranteed credit element of pension credit
- Income support
- Income based jobseeker’s allowance
- Income related employment and support allowance
- Housing benefit
- Universal Credit
- The “Savings Credit” part of pension credit
Households in England and Wales don’t have to apply to get the cash and receive it automatically.
The £150 will be added as a discount to your energy bill rather than paid in cash.
Winter Fuel Payment
The Winter Fuel Payment is worth up to £300 every winter and paid to those on certain benefits.
Nine million people are to get the Winter Fuel Payment to help with their energy bills over the colder months.
Most people who are eligible will get the payment automatically, and will receive letters in the post from the DWP in October and November telling them how much cash they will receive.
Pensioners have until March 31 2026 to make a claim.
Other energy bill help available ?
If you get need additional financial support to help with your bills, there are other options available.
Octopus Energy has a £30million Assist Fund to help struggling customers.
This includes direct financial support added as credit on your Octopus account, standing charge waivers and free electric blankets, depending on eligibility and circumstances.
If you’d like to apply, Octopus will ask for some information about your incomings and outgoings to better understand your situation, then offer you advice and support that is most appropriate for your circumstance
OVO customer’s can also acess financial support including direct debit reductions, emergency top-ups and extended repayment plans.
You can check your eligibility and apply for extra support on the OVO Energy website.
E.ON are also offering assistance to customers who are experience financial hardship.
The fund supports people either through grants to help pay energy bills, or through replacing appliances that have broken or are in a poor condition.
To be eligible for a grant, you’ll need to pass a three-month Provisional Award Scheme and be able to cover your average monthly energy use.
E.ON says that, as part of the application, they may ask you to show proof of any benefits and/or tax credits received by any adults in your household.
You may also need to show proof of any illnesses in your household.
If you’d like to apply, you can do so on the E.ON Next Energy Fund website.
4 ways to keep your energy bills low
Laura Court-Jones, Small Business Editor at Bionic shared her tips.
1. Turn your heating down by one degree
You probably won’t even notice this tiny temperature difference, but what you will notice is a saving on your energy bills as a result. Just taking your thermostat down a notch is a quick way to start saving fast. This one small action only takes seconds to carry out and could potentially slash your heating bills by £171.70.
2. Switch appliances and lights off
It sounds simple, but fully turning off appliances and lights that are not in use can reduce your energy bills, especially in winter. Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, can save you up to £20 a year on your energy bills
3. Install a smart meter
Smart meters are a great way to keep control over your energy use, largely because they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity is being used.
4. Consider switching energy supplier
No matter how happy you are with your current energy supplier, they may not be providing you with the best deals, especially if you’ve let a fixed-rate contract expire without arranging a new one. If you haven’t browsed any alternative tariffs lately, then you may not be aware that there are better options out there.
