The Government's £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) payments have come to an end this month, but there's still a few ways you might be able to get cash to help with your heating bills as we get ready for wintery weather forecasted for this week.
The support could be a welcome boost this year to many families on low incomes, as energy bills soar amid the cost of living crisis. Even with the £2,500 energy price guarantee scheme (EPG) in place, the average household is still paying nearly double the £1,277 a year it was paying last year.
Although there are rumours that the £500 a year hike to the EPG may be scrapped next month amid growing pressure from charities and pressure groups, the cost of energy for the average UK household is currently still due to rise to £3,000 from April 1, at the same time as the energy bills support scheme (EBSS) is due to stop. And remember the £3,000 is for an average family - use more and you'll pay more.
Read more: Cost of living: Work out how much your heating costs per hour
However, there are still some schemes to help support families struggling with their heating bills, with the cut-off date for most March 31. Here's a list of what you could get, depending on your circumstances:
Cold Weather Payments
The weather is set to turn wintery next week, which could trigger Cold Weather Payments in some past of the North East until March 31. You’ll get a payment of £25 if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0C or below over seven consecutive days, and with temperatures due to plunge to -5C in some rural areas of the region, some families could be eligible for the extra money, which is paid automatically.
The scheme is run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and applies every winter. So far this winter, most postcode areas in our region have seen three payments. There are an estimated four million eligible recipients for the Cold Winter Payments in the UK and you can check if your postcode is due a payment here.
The rules around the cold weather payment eligibility are quite complex, but the following benefits may qualify you if your postcode is triggered:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support: You’ll usually get the cold weather payments if you're paid a disability or pensioner premium, have a child who is disabled, claim Child Tax Credit with a disability or severe disability element or have a child under 5 living with you
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance: You’ll usually get the cold weather payments if you're paid a disability or pensioner premium, have a child who is disabled, claim Child Tax Credit with a disability or severe disability element or have a child under 5 living with you
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance: You’ll usually get cold weather payments if you get income-related ESA and are in a work-related activity group or support group. If you’re not in either group, you might also get the payments if you receive a severe or enhanced disability premium, a pensioner premium, have a child who is disabled, claim Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element or have an under5 living with you.
- Universal Credit: You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get Universal Credit and you’re not employed or self-employed. One of the following must also apply: you have a health condition or disability and have limited capability for work (with or without work-related activity) or you have a child under 5 living with you. You’ll also be eligible if you have a disabled child amount in your claim, whether you’re employed or not.
- Support for Mortgage Interest: You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you have any of the following: Aa severe or enhanced disability premium, a pensioner premium, a child who is disabled, claim Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element or have a child under 5 living with you.
Warm Home Discount Scheme
This is the first winter of the new eligibility criteria for the Warm Home Discount scheme, and while those on the guaranteed element of pension credit will continue to get the payment automatically, others on a low income also now need to have 'high energy costs' to qualify for the state-backed initiative funded by energy suppliers.
The change has been controversial, with fuel poverty charity National Energy Action and Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis claiming that tens of thousands of households are 'falling through the cracks', including many who were eligible for the £150 payment last year but not this.
The new criteria relies on data from the valuation office agency (VOA) to determine the size, age and type of home you live in and uses an algorithm to determine how much you might pay for your energy, rather than assessing your bills or how much energy you actually use..
The shake-up of the scheme excludes those on non-means-tested disability benefits. The Warm Home Discount Scheme used to be paid on a first-come, first-served basis, leading to a scramble every year when the scheme opened but this year, payments should have been made automatically to those eligible. The deadline to claim, or to challenge a claim, for this winter was February 28, but payments can be made up until March 31, so it's worth checking with your energy supplier if you are going top get one, as when you'll get the discount may be different for everybody.
Winter Fuel Payment
Winter Fuel Payments – boosted this year by an additional £300 per household Pensioner Cost of Living payment – were made before Christmas to over 99% of the eligible 11.5 million pensioners across the UK this winter, including nearly 500,000 in the North East. The rollout of this year's payments started in November. Last year, 497,374 North East pensioners received the extra money from the Winter Fuel Payment.
But although the overwhelming majority of Winter Fuel Payments are paid automatically, some people need to make a claim, such as those who qualify but do not receive benefits or the State Pension and have never previously received a Winter Fuel Payment. The deadline for doing so is March 31.
Winter Fuel Payments, which are given to people born before 26 September 1956 to help with energy bills over the winter, are worth between £100 and £300 depending on your specific circumstances. However, this year, the payment was topped by £300 through a Pensioner Cost of Living Payment in response to rising bills in the UK. This means some claimants could potentially get £600 to help pay their energy bills in the winter months.
If they have not received your payment, visit the GOV.UK Winter Fuel Payment page to see if you do need to apply and how to do so.
Energy grants
Some energy companies still have money on hand to help vulnerable families stay warm as the winter weather bites. Most major energy suppliers have funds available for their customers who are struggling with their bills and you can even apply to one - British Gas - whether you're a customer or not.
Many grants have already been paid out, but energy companies still have money - sometimes up to thousands of pounds - to support households experiencing financial difficulties. Whether your supplier offers support, who qualifies, and how much you'll get varies. Scottish Power, for example, requires people to be on certain benefits, while Utility Warehouse requires people to be in fuel poverty, or about to go into energy debt. Most suppliers require applicants to have spoken to a debt adviser such as StepChange before applying, complete an income and expenditure budgeting form, provide proof of income, give details of how arrears have built up, and detail how the grant will help them. Those deemed to have the greatest need are likely to be prioritised.
Read more:
- DWP major benefit payment changes in pipeline for millions of sick and disabled people
- Cost of living: A five-step plan to get debt free in 2023
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- All the big money changes to look out for in 2023 month by month
- DWP Universal Credit claimants hit as sanctions rise by 250% amid claims they are 'back with a vengeance'
