Stevenage Constituency Labour Party Working all year round for Stevenage
Why I’ve launched a Winter Fuel Allowance Toolkit
Due to a £22 billion deficit left by the previous Conservative government, the new government had to make the difficult decision in targeting Winter Fuel Payments to pensioners on Pension Credit. This is one of many difficult decisions made to ensure our country’s financial position isn’t wrecked again, which could lead to increased prices, mortgages, and rents for everyone.
Despite this decision, pensioners will be better off in the long term under Labour. Labour’s commitment to the triple lock on pensions will deliver a significant payment increase next April, with further support coming through the warm homes plan, energy policies and the household support fund extension.
However in the short time, our immediate priority has to be supporting any pensioner who needs help this winter – whether that’s getting eligible pensioners signed up to pension credit or directing pensioners to other support they didn’t know they could access.
As part of my local campaign to ensure all pensioners who need help can access it, I’ve launched this Winter Fuel Allowance Toolkit which hosts all the information needed to get support this winter. If anyone has an enquiry, needs direct help or the support of a caseworker, please get in touch at kevin.bonavia.mp@parliament.uk and my team will be on hand to provide support.
Here it is below:
Pension credit
Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income. Pension Credit can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges.
Pension Credit tops up:
- your weekly income to £218.15 if you’re single
- your joint weekly income to £332.95 if you have a partner
If your income is higher, you might still be eligible for Pension Credit if you have a disability, you care for someone, you have savings or you have housing costs.
How to claim
Visit: www.gov.uk/pension-credit/how-to-claim
Pension Credit claim line
Telephone: 0800 99 1234
Textphone: 0800 169 0133
Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 99 1234
Citizens Advice
If you’re in England or Wales, you can speak to a trained adviser on 0808 223 1133 or fill in an online form and they’ll respond by email.
Herts Help
Herts Help assists Hertfordshire residents facing an immediate financial crisis.
Call: 0300 123 4044 Email: info@hertshelp.net Text hertshelp to 60060
Energy Suppliers – Hardship funds
Contact your energy supplier to speak to them regarding their hardship fund.
Big energy firms have charitable trusts and funds that can help if you’re in debt and struggling to repay.
With these providers you’ll usually need to be a customer of the firm to apply, but British Gas offers help to non-customers as well.
Cold weather payment scheme
Under the Cold Weather Payment scheme, older people and those on certain benefits in England and Wales can get a grant to help cover costs when temperatures hit zero degrees or below in their area.
It applies if the average temperature is – or is forecast to be – 0°C or below for seven days in a row between 1 November and 31 March. You get £25 for each seven-day period.
National Energy Action (NEA)
The NEA is a national fuel poverty and energy efficiency charity that offers a free support service known as WASH (Warm and Safe Homes). It provides energy advice to households in England and Wales. You can contact it on 0800 304 7159, or fill in an online form.
It offers advice on income maximisation, energy billing, fuel debt, energy efficiency and trust fund application.
Warm Home Discount
The Warm Home Discount is a government programme that provides a one-off rebate to the electricity bills of UK homes that are at risk of fuel poverty. Find out if you’re eligible and which energy suppliers offer the Warm Home Discount.
The Warm Home Discount, like the Social Tariff scheme it replaced, is designed to help those who are vulnerable or may need help covering their energy bills during the winter months, when energy bills tend to be the most expensive.
There is no need to apply for the Warm Home Discount anymore – your supplier will automatically apply the discount to your bill if you are eligible.
You will receive a letter if you’re eligible, or if you need to provide more information. If you’re eligible, you don’t need to do anything, but if you need to provide more information, follow the letter’s instructions.
If you want to find out whether you qualify, you can call the government Warm Home Discount phone line on 0800 030 9322
Household support fund
You may be able to get help with essential costs from your local council. This is sometimes known as ‘the Household Support Fund’. This could help if you’re struggling to afford things like:
- energy and water bills
- food
- essential items
Funding is aimed at anyone who’s vulnerable or cannot pay for essentials. You do not have to be getting benefits to get help from your local council.
You can contact your local community Centre for advice and support or alternatively contact your local council.
Lightning Reach
Lets you know what grants you might be eligible for, and helps you apply. It’ll also point you in the direction of other financial support, such as benefits, you might qualify for too.
Turn2us
Has an easy-to-use grant search which tells you how to contact any suitable charities directly, or you can register for a free account to send online enquiries and applications to charities through the site.
StepChange.
A charity that provides free debt advice to people in England, Scotland and Wales. You can contact it on 0800 138 1111 or get online debt advice.
MoneyHelper.
Sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions, it provides free, impartial and confidential money guidance to anyone in the UK. You can contact it on 0800 138 7777, or via webchat, email or WhatsApp.
National Debt Line.
A debt charity that gives free independent advice to people in England, Scotland and Wales. You can talk to it via webchat or by calling 0808 808 4000.
AgeUK
AgeUK is a leading charity, it can help any older person and those entitled to claim benefits.
Call: 0800 678 1602
Scope
Scope is a disability equality charity; it offers free energy advice to disabled people in England and Wales. You can contact it on 0808 801 0828 or email helpline@scope.org.uk
Energy Comparison websites
There are several energy comparison websites that can help you find a new energy supplier; most suppliers will arrange the switch for you.
Alzheimer’s Society
UK’s largest collective force of people with unparalleled knowledge and over 40 years of experience addressing the biggest challenges facing people living with dementia.
Call: 0330 333 0804