A guide to government help available for winter fuel bills

Thanks to increases in gas and electricity rates, UK households are now paying an average of more than 1000GBP per year on the utility bills. This staggering rise has left many unable to cope. But help is at hand, with a new range of government initiatives set out to help those most in need. This guide will let you know what help is available to you.

If you are struggling to pay for your gas and electricity bills, then you should get in touch with your supplier too. They should be happy to help, and often have a range of support in place for those on lower incomes. They can work out a more affordable payment plan for you, may offer you a grant, or switch your energy tariff to a special reduced rate.

1.Insulating your home properly is a great way to save on energy bills, as an insulated home means less heat loss, and hence a reduced need for your gas central heating. But insulation can be expensive to install. This is why the government have introduced their Home Energy Saving Programme, which provides free loft and cavity insulation for those on reduced incomes and for pensioners. Everyone else can get 50 per cent off the price of insulation.

2. To make sure that everyone in the poorest UK communities is aware of the help that they are entitled to, and to offer energy saving advice to these communities, the government has set up the Community Energy Saving Programme. This will be run through the energy companies, local charities, as well as local councils, who will visit the poorest homes offering information and aid.

3. A popular government initiative that helps pensioners in Britain who are aged 60 and above is the Winter Fuel Payment initiative. The Winter Fuel Payment is a one-off payment to help you pay for your fuel bills. Typically this is 250 GBP, rising to 400 GBP for those over the age of 80.

4. The Winter Fuel Payment is paid once each year, usually in November. The payment is should automatically paid to those who have a state pension and live within the UK. Those without a state-provided pension should phone 08459 151 515 form a claim form, or visit the government website at Direct.Gov.

5. The government has a system in place for helping out those most in need when the temperatures drop. Those on pension credit, those on benefits who also have a young child in the family, and those on certain disability and pension premiums are entitled to this one-off payment when the average temperature hits 0C or below for 7 days in a row.

Many of the government schemes announced are actually being funded by gas and electricity companies. The government has announced new legislation that now requires these companies to pay out 910 million GBP towards these energy help packages.

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