ENVIRONMENT

A little advice...

Am I eligible? You will automatically receive the payment if you get Pension Credit or certain other means-tested benefits. Many older members in the community are eligible for extra financial help this winter and the team at St Pauls Advice Centre How do I claim? have highlighted a number of schemes and discounts to which Contact the Pension Service (0800 731 0469) if you think you should have received a Cold Weather Payment but did you or someone you know may be entitled. not. Winter fuel payments Winter Fuel Payment or Winter Fuel Allowance is an annual Warm Homes Discount payment to help with heating costs.You only need to claim You could save £140 off your electricity bill for winter once. After this, you should receive it automatically each year, 2017/18 under the Warm Home Discount Scheme. The as long as your circumstances do not change. money is not paid to you – it is a one off discount on your Am I eligible? electricity bill, between October and March. The discount Winter Fuel Payments are made to households with someone will not affect your Cold Weather Payment or Winter Fuel born on or before 5 December 1953. The rates are higher if Payment. you are aged 80 or over. You can also qualify for the discount if you use a pre-pay How do I claim? or pay-as-you-go electricity meter. Ask about your payment or to make a claim by calling the Winter Fuel Payment Helpline on 0800 731 0160 or online at Am I eligible? www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment. You qualify for the discount if on 9 July 2017 all of the Cold Weather Payment Cold weather payments are made to eligible people when the weather is very cold.You get £25 a week when the average temperature has been, or is expected to be, 0oC or below, for 7 days in a row for each day of “very cold weather”.

following applied: -Your electricity supplier was part of the scheme -Your name (or your partner’s) was on the bill -You were getting the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit You may be able to apply directly to your electricity supplier for help if you don’t qualify because you don’t get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit but: -You’re on a low income -You get certain means-tested benefits Check with your supplier to see if you are eligible and how to apply. How do I claim it? You will have received a letter by 30 November 2018 telling you how to get the discount. If you qualify.Your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill by the end of March 2019. If you don’t receive your letter but think that you qualify, you can telephone the Warm Home Discount Team at the Centre for Sustainable energy on 0800 082 2234 or visit www.home.energy@cse.org.uk St Pauls Advice Centre is a local charity whose purpose is to fight poverty and inequality in the community by providing professional legal advice, casework and representation. We equip people with knowledge and skills so they can access their rights and fulfil their responsibilities. The information in this article is provided in good faith, however, benefits and entitlements are regularly subject to change without notice.