Page 7 - Community Living Magazine 35-2

welfare rights
Help to pay the winter fuel bills

Electricity and gas prices are rising just after universal credit ● Is not restricted to households getting
welfare benefits
was cut back, but there are schemes to help people afford their ● Is ringfenced so at least 50% goes to
fuel bills. Charlie Callanan sets out what is available vulnerable households with children.
The fund has been distributed to English
local authorities and to the devolved
oncerns about fuel becoming administrations in Wales, Scotland and
unaffordable come against a Northern Ireland.
Cbackground of rises in consumer The Scottish Government has
inflation, and the removal in autumn of committed to spending £10 million of its
the temporary £20 a week increase to allocation to help people struggling with
universal credit. their fuel bills. Clients should contact their
However, various payments and financial local authority to find out how to apply.
and practical schemes are available to help Child winter heating assistance is
clients deal with fuel bills and to improve available in Scotland. This is a payment of
household energy efficiency. £202 to families who have a disabled child
The winter fuel payment is a one-off or young person (aged under 19) and
payment from the Department for Work receive a qualifying disability benefit, and
and Pensions (DWP) to help people of is to help them meet their heating costs
pension age with their fuel bills. over winter.
It is not means tested and not taxable, The Warm Home Discount Scheme in
and clients can get it regardless of England, Scotland and Wales provides a
whether they get any other welfare £120 rebate on electricity bills. People
benefits or not. It is paid directly to the qualify if: they get guarantee pension
claimant, so they can spend the money credit and their energy supplier is
how they wish. People who were born on Cold weather payments are made when the participating in the scheme; or if they get a
or before 26 September 1955 qualify for temperature falls to freezing or below for a week qualifying means-tested benefit and their
the payment this winter. energy supplier is providing a discretionary
The payment will be £100, £150, £200 freezing point or below over seven discount to customers who are on a low
or £300. The amount depends on whether consecutive days. The payment is £25 for income. Clients will need to check with
the claimant is aged over or under 80 each qualifying week and should be made their electricity supplier if they qualify.
years, and whether they live with another automatically into the account into which Another area of assistance is the grant
person who is also entitled to the winter the claimant’s usual benefits are paid. funding to help improve fuel efficiency and
fuel payment. Grounds for eligibility Include where the heating. These may cover items such as
Claimants who have previously received claimant gets income-related employment loft insulation, draughtproofing, cavity wall
the payment and people getting state and support allowance or income support, insulation and a new or replacement boiler.
pension or certain other benefits (such as and the award includes a disability The qualifying criteria vary between
premium or a severe or enhanced schemes but people who are entitled to a
disability premium or a disabled child means-tested benefit or a disability benefit
The household support fund is premium; or if they get universal credit as well as those of pension age may qualify.
Clients who are in arrears with their
to help people who are and have been assessed as having “limited payments for gas or electricity and live in
capability for work”.
struggling and is not restricted People who claim certain means-tested England, Wales or Scotland may be able
to those getting benefits benefits and have a disabled child should to get financial help from their fuel
also qualify for a cold weather payment,
supplier. Some larger suppliers run
as should those who get pension credit. independent charitable trusts that give
The Household Support Fund is a new grants to some customers to help them
pension credit) do not need to apply: they government financial support scheme. The pay off fuel arrears, as well as potentially
will get the payment automatically. Other government said it was set up to “provide towards other household debts.
people must make a claim to the DWP by a lifeline for those at risk of struggling to The links below give more information
31 March 2021. keep up with their bills over the winter”, about the payments and schemes
Under a new scheme in Wales, following the financial consequences of described here. n
households receiving working-age, the Covid-19 pandemic. It will be available
means-tested benefits can claim a one-off until the end of March 2022. Further information
£100 payment for winter fuel. Payments Guidance from DWP to English local Ofgem. Find schemes, grants and benefits to
help with home energy. https://tinyurl.
are administered by local authorities. authorities states that the fund: com/5a2cexkw
Christy Lawrance DWP to people claiming certain means- needs, and help those who are Energy Saving Trust. Energy at home. Financial
Should be used to meet immediate
Cold weather payments are made by the
●
support. https://tinyurl.com/yeuh5rrp
struggling to afford food, energy and
tested benefits. It is paid only when the
Community Action on Fuel Poverty. Fuel debt
water bills, and other essentials
average temperature in an area falls to
and trust funds. https://tinyurl.com/mhupc5p3
www.cl-initiatives.co.uk Community Living Vol 35 No 2 | Winter 2022 7