There is lots of help for pensioners to get through the cost of living crisis.
We have prepared this blog to help you get the help you are entitled to.
Pensioner Cost of Living Support
Pensioners on Universal Credit, Pension Credit will receive a payment of £650 this year, paid automatically in two instalments.
The first payment of £326 was made in summer. The second payment of £324 will be made by DWP to eligible customers between 8 and 23 November, and by HMRC between 23 and 30 November (to customers receiving tax credits only and no other eligible DWP benefits).
This is in addition to the £400 discount on energy bills.
Winter Fuel Payment
The Winter Fuel Payment was introduced in 1997 and is an annual tax-free heating allowance of between £100 and £300 made to those over pensionable age who may require assistance with their heating costs during the winter.
The winter fuel allowance is not means-tested, which means you can still qualify if you’re working or claiming benefits.
The payment is usually credited to your electricity bill by your supplier, or you will receive a voucher to redeem if you’re a pay-as-you-go customer.
Cold Weather Payments
If you’re eligible, you could be due a payment of £25 every time the average temperature in your area hits zero degrees celsius or below, for seven or more consecutive days between 1st November and 31st March.
Age Concern Boiler Grants 2023
If you are claiming PENSION CREDIT and your boiler is over 18 years old or you have a backboiler behind the fire you may be able to claim a Free Boiler Grant From The government.
This is worth over £2400 and includes fitting too!
SEE IF YOU QUALIFY NOW
Free Central Heating For Over 70s
If You Have No Central Heating Fitted You Can Apply For A Fantastic Grant For Free Central Heating !
This is worth over £4000!”
Our Free Central Heating Grant Will:
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- Increase Your Home Epc Rating !
- Reduce Your Heating Bills !
- Make Your Home 100% Cosier !
- Apply if you receive pension credit and have no central heating fitted.
SEE IF YOU QUALIFY NOW
MORE USEFUL RESOURCES FOR PENSIONERS
Help With Energy Bills
All pensioners in Britain will get £400 off their energy bills between October 2022 and March 2023 via the Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS).
You don’t have to pay this money back through future bills.
In England, Scotland and Wales, the money will be credited to the accounts of customers who pay by direct debit or with cash or a cheque.
For those on prepayment meters the money will be applied to the meter or sent in vouchers.
One-off payments
These are paid automatically and there’ll be no need to apply.
This year (2023-24), you may also be entitled to one or more lump-sum payments. These are:
- a £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment for OAPs that receive the Winter Fuel Payment. This is a top-up to your Winter Fuel Payment in November/December.
- a £900 Cost of Living Payment for OAPs on means-tested benefits, such as Pension Credit and Universal Credit.
- a £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment for OAPs receiving disability benefits, such as Attendance Allowance.
Household Support Fund
This is a payment to help pensioners in need with the rising cost of food, gas and electric, and water bills.
Each local council decide their own eligibility criteria – you’ll be paid automatically too.
Contact your local Council to check if you’re eligible for the Household Support Fund
To help with the reduction of energy bills OAPs on Pension Credit can apply for energy efficiency grants to upgrade your heating & insulation.
Grants are usually 100% free and do not have to be paid back.
Warm Home Discount
Gov Uk Help For Households 2023
The Warm Home Discount Scheme is a government grant scheme that will save you £140 off your energy bills during the cold winter months.
With fuel prices increasing by up to 50% this year, this will be very welcome.
This one-off payment of £140 is just one of a number of schemes that can offer financial help during the colder months.
This blog is to inform who is eligible for this discount and how you apply.
How To Apply For Warm Home Discount
Warm Home Discount Helpline – Monday to Friday 8.30am-4.30pm.
0800 731 0214
Who Qualifies For The Warm Home Discount?
Each supplier has their own set of qualifying criteria and a limited number of discounts they will pay out.
- For those on the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, who receive the Warm Home Discount automatically, as long as this also applied to them on 4 July 2021.
- Broader Group: Other energy consumers on low income or means-tested benefits can apply too.
Do All Suppliers Offer The Warm Home Discount?
Not all companies are obliged to offer this scheme.
Medium and larger energy suppliers with over 150,000 customers have a legal obligation to participate in the Warm Home Discount scheme.
You may also be able to receive the discount on your gas costs if you are a dual fuel customer.
How and when will I get the payment?
You’ll receive the payment on your electricity account between November 2022 and March 2023.
If you’ve got a prepayment meter then we’ll send you a top-up voucher to redeem.
Government Grants For Boilers
Only Non Condensing boilers and back boilers behind the fire will be eligible for the Free Grant
All wall hung boilers will need to be around 17 years old or more to be eligible for exchange.
Back Boilers can be any age.
Government Grant For Free External Wall Insulation
To Be Eligible for a Government Grant for Solid Wall Insulation you must :
- Have A LPG Boiler Fitted
- You Must Be A Home Owner
- You Receive a Qualifying Benefit
- Your home has solid walls
- Your EPC rating is F or G
Government Grants – Free First Time Central Heating
Storage Heaters – Warm Air System – Wood / Coal / Fossil Fuel Fired Heating – LPG with no Radiators -No Heating Present
Government Grant – Free Storage Heaters
There is only funding for 5000 storage heaters in this scheme.
To Be Eligible for Free Storage Heaters you must have :
- Electric Plug-in Heaters Fitted
- You Receive a Qualifying Benefit
- You Are A Home Owner Or Private Tenant
- Have insulation fitted at the same time
Government Home Insulation Grant
Every insulation applicant will no longer be able to pick and choose what insulation they want for their home.
They will have a survey and all insulation meaures found not to be present will be done ( subject to funding of course )
To Be Eligible for Home Insulation you must have :
- No Or Minimal Insulation Fitted
- YOUR EPC MUST BE A MINIMUM OF E
- You Receive a Qualifying Benefit
- You Are A Home Owner Or private Tenant
Government Grants For Heat Pumps
People who wish to upgrade their old boiler to a new heat pump will be given £5000 grant from the government to subsidise it.
This should mean that all applicants will only pay £4000 contribution approx towards it. Half price in other words.
Not finalised yet but figures are thought to be around this.
This will be very popular and probably over subscribes with many applications failing.