Households across Scotland are being urged to seek support and advice after the boss of British Gas owner warned energy bills are likely to stay high for the foreseeable future. Centrica chief executive Chris O’Shea said while prices are starting to drop they will remain significantly above the longer-term average.
Advice Direct Scotland, the national energy advice service for Scotland, is encouraging people to check grant and benefit entitlements over the summer to help keep costs down this winter. Ofgem’s new price cap replaced the UK Government’s £2,500 Energy Price Guarantee at the start of July and will see households on a standard tariff, with typical energy usage, pay £2,074 a year for gas and electricity bills.
However, it’s important to be aware that this figure is not the maximum households could pay for their energy bills - use more and you’ll pay more, similarly, use less and you should pay less.
The energy regulator recently warned that it is unlikely for prices to return to the levels seen before the energy crisis began. Consultancy firm Cornwall Insight has also predicted that households can expect their energy bills to remain ‘stubbornly high’ throughout the coming winter.
Advice Direct Scotland, runs the energyadvice.scot service providing free, impartial and practical advice on energy bills for anyone living in Scotland. They can also be contacted on freephone 0808 196 8660, Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm.
Households self-rationing energy due to the cost of living crisis can get help and support from homeheatingadvice.scot.
Hazel Knowles, energy project team lead for Advice Direct Scotland, said: “Even with the warmer weather and energy prices starting to move in the right direction, we know many people are struggling. Bills will still be almost double the amount they were before the energy crisis began, which will be unaffordable for many households.
“The important thing to remember is no one should struggle alone, and help is available. We would urge anyone struggling with energy costs to reach out to their supplier who may have a hardship fund that could help.
“Our energyadvice.scot service also provides free, practical advice on the support and assistance available, such as grants, and ensures that people can access all entitled benefits.”
Anyone experiencing difficulties with their energy bills should visit www.energyadvice.scot or call 0808 196 8660 for free advice.
If you are in work, but on a low income, facing redundancy, living with a long-term health condition or disability, raising a family or recently bereaved, you could be due extra financial support from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Social Security Scotland, or your local council.
Now is the ideal time to set some time aside to use one of the online benefit calculators listed at the end of this article to check if you should make a claim for a benefit, payment or discount.
A recent report from the think-tank Policy in Practice, estimates that a staggering £19 billion is being left unclaimed by millions of households each year across Great Britain.
Who should check for unclaimed benefits or discounts?
There is a wide range of benefits and payments available you should check for.
You should check if:
- you are temporarily unable to work, including because of ill health
- you are of working age on a low income
- you’re over State Pension age on a low income
- you have been made redundant
- you are looking for work
- you are raising a family
- you have a child who is disabled or has a health condition
- you are disabled or have a health condition
- you’re caring for someone
- you have lost a loved one
How to check eligibility for benefits or payments
The quickest way to check is to use an online confidential benefits calculator - there’s even one that checks eligibility for devolved benefits. Below is everything you need to know about benefits calculators including what they check for and how to use them.
What is an online benefits calculator?
Online benefit calculators quickly work out if you are missing out on any benefits and best of all, they are completely free, independent and confidential to use - so there’s nothing to lose.
In just a few minutes you could find out how much you may be able to claim in extra support, just by entering details about yourself, your residential status, your working status and any savings you have.
You can use an independent benefits calculator to find out:
- What benefits you could get
- How to claim
- How your benefits will be affected if you start work
Where to find help
Advice Direct Scotland
This online tool is the first to fully integrate devolved benefits, including Scottish Child Payment and Adult Disability Payment. It provides a free and impartial assessment of entitlement to a range of benefits such as Universal Credit, crisis grants and support payments.
Turn2us
Information on income-related benefits, Tax Credits, Council Tax Reduction, Carer’s Allowance, Universal Credit and how your benefits will be affected if you start work or change your working hours.
Policy in Practice
Information on income-related benefits, Tax Credits, contribution-based benefits, Council Tax Reduction, Carer’s Allowance, Universal Credit, how these are calculated and how your benefits will be affected if you start work or change your working hours.
entitledto
Information on income-related benefits, Tax Credits, contribution-based benefits, Council Tax Reduction, Carer’s Allowance, Universal Credit and how your benefits will be affected if you start work.
What you will need
You will need accurate information about your:
Savings
Income, including your partner’s
Existing benefits and pensions (including anyone living with you)
Outgoings (such as rent, mortgage, childcare payments)
Latest Council Tax bill
To keep up to date with the latest energy news, join our Money Saving Scotland Facebook page here, follow us on Twitter @Record_Money, or subscribe to our newsletter which goes out Monday to Friday - sign up here.
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