Winter Fuel Payments
The Government again plan to make Winter Fuel Payments this winter. The majority of payments are made automatically and are paid over a number of weeks from mid-November. All automatic payments should have been made by Christmas.
Further information on the grants 2010/2011 is available on the website
Warm Front (England)
The Warm Front Scheme is now open for new applications.
To qualify for Warm Front a person must live in their own home or rent privately and be in receipt of one of the benefits below. The property must have a SAP rating of 55 or under. The SAP rating of the property will be assessed at the beginning of the Technical Survey.
A householder or their spouse must be in receipt of one of the following:
Pension Credit
* Guaranteed Credit or
* Savings Credit
Income Support or Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance and have any of the following:
* Has parental responsibility for a child under 5 who ordinarily resides with that person
* Child Tax Credit (which must include a disability or severe disability element for a child or young person)
* Disabled Child Premium
* Disability Premium (enhanced disability or severe disability element premium)
* Pensioner Premium (higher pensioner premium or enhanced pensioner premium)
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA IR) that includes a work related activity or support component.
Please note there are some changes you should be aware of:
* the £300 Rebate Scheme is no longer available
* Benefit Entitlement Checks are no longer available
* CFL's will no longer be provided
* LPG boilers will now be available in rural areas as a new system
The grant maximum will remain the same at £3,500 and £6,000 for properties off the gas mains network. There are no other changes to the measures available through the Scheme.
Warm Front contact details:
Freephone 0800 316 2814 or visit the website: http://www.warmfront.co.uk/
Energy Assistance Package (Scotland)
The Energy Assistance Package is a holistic package to help maximise incomes, reduce fuel bills and improve the energy efficiency of homes. It replaces the Central Heating and Warm Deal programmes. For more details see: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/access/FP/eap
The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (Wales)
The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) Wales is now closed. As of 1 April 2011, a new Welsh Assembly fuel poverty scheme, called Nest, is now running in its place.
Nest is the Welsh Assembly Government's New Fuel Poverty Scheme and British Gas is the delivery partner for the scheme. The Nest programme is designed to help people that are finding it difficult to pay their energy bills. The scheme offers householders a range of free home improvements to help them heat their homes more efficiently and stay warm without facing huge energy bills.
The Nest programme takes a ‘whole house' approach to determining what energy improvement work would be most suitable, some examples include:
* Loft and cavity wall insulation
* Solid wall insulation
* Draft proofing
* Boiler replacement
To obtain Nest energy improvement work you must be receiving a means tested benefit, your property must have an energy efficiency rating of F or G and be privately owned or privately rented.
For more information on Nest, please visit www.nestwales.org.uk or call 0800 512 012
The Warm Homes Scheme (Northern Ireland)
The Warm Homes Scheme is for people who receive certain benefits and who own their own home or rent it privately from a landlord. There are two levels of help available:
Warm Homes which offers a range of insulation measures to householders on a qualifying benefit and
Warm Homes Plus which offers insulation and heating measures to householders in receipt of a qualifying benefit and who have Economy 7, Solid Fuel, LPG/Bottled Gas or who have no central heating system at all.
Benefit Entitlement Checks and Energy Advice are offered to all householders who qualify for either level of help. For more information please call 0800 988 0559 or visit www.warm-homes.com
Other Available Grant Schemes
The Greggs Foundation administers a Hardship Fund to households in the North East of England in extreme social need. Priority is given to children and families. Applications should be made on behalf of a client by a welfare agency. Grants of between £50-£150 are available per household. For more information please visit: http://www.greggsfoundation.org.uk/hardshipfund.html
The Tesco Home Insulation Service offers all customers living in privately owned or privately rented accommodation in mainland Great Britain and the Isle of Wight the opportunity to insulate their properties with either cavity wall or loft insulation for a cost of just £198* for each, or FREE if you are in receipt of qualifying benefits. It's quick and easy to apply - simply go online at www.tesco.com/insulation or call free on 0800 321 3456.
E.ON is offering HeatPlant ground source heat pump technology free to households who are off the mains gas supply and use coal-fired heating. They are offering the system fully installed, including central heating and hot water plumbing, free of charge to households on qualifying benefits - a package worth up to £11,500. More information can be found at www.eonenergy.com/heatplant
The British Gas Energy Trust / The Scottish Gas Energy Trust
Covering England, Scotland and Wales, grants are available to help individuals and families in need to meet arrears of energy charges and other household bills and costs. The Trust will also fund voluntary sector organisations to provide money and debt advice services. To be able to apply to the Trust Fund, you must be a current domestic customer of British Gas or Scottish Gas. For more information please see http://www.britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/index.html
EDF Energy Trust
The Trust's aim is to help people take control of their finances by reducing the burden of their debts and helping them meet their future bills. It is hoped that the awarding of grants and the provision of money advice and energy efficiency advice will enable people to make a fresh start. To apply you must be a customer of EDF Energy and the brands formerly known as London Energy, Seeboard Energy and SWEB Energy. The EDF Energy Trust also helps to educate the public about debt awareness and prevention as well as signposting customers to energy efficiency advice and practical support. For more information please see http://www.edfenergytrust.org.uk/
npower Energy Trust
- payment of arrears for gas and/or electricity through a provisional award scheme
- other essential costs (household debts or needs) through Further Assistance Payments
Vegetarian for life
Vegetarian for Life is an advocacy and educational charity working on behalf of older vegetarians and vegans throughout the UK. The Vegan Fund and The Vegetarian Fund offer one-off grants to older vegans and vegetarians who are in financial need, to support them to live independently. To be eligible for a grant from either fund you must be: aged 65 or over in financial need and either, a practising vegan - for a grant from The Vegan Fund, or a practising vegetarian - for a grant from The Vegetarian Fund. Individual grants are normally subject to an upper limit of £3,000, but this may vary if the grant would benefit more than one eligible person.
For further information and for application details please visit www.vegetarianforlife.org.uk
Enact Energy Heat Project
The Heat Project is one of Britain's largest and most established energy efficiency insulation schemes. Providing all homeowners, residential landlords and private tenants with grant assisted loft and cavity wall insulation, the Heat Project ensures thousands of households in Britain enjoy the benefits of a warm, energy efficient and healthy home evry day. For a full overview of the project, you can visit their website at www.heatproject.co.uk
Foundations Independent Living Trust Hardship Fund
The Trust administer a Health Through Warmth crisis fund used to fund heating measures for home improvement agency clients with cold and damp related illnesses. Home improvement agencies can apply to the Foundations Independent Living Trust hardship fund on behalf of their clients. Applications can be made for part-funding of heating or insulation measures that will have a positive impact on clients whose health is affected by cold and damp.
The application form includes questions relating to your client's health and the other sources of funding for the measures, as these are part of the acceptance criteria.
For more information and to apply http://www.foundations.uk.com/about_us/foundations_independent_living_trust/the_hardship_fund
Eaga - UK Grants for Home Insulation
As part of the Government's target to tackle climate change, the importance of home energy efficiency is still top of the agenda. Eaga are able to access various grants from the Government and major energy suppliers to help towards the cost of insulating your home. Grants are available to all privately owned/rented households meaning that you can insulate your property with either cavity wall or loft insulation from only £149* each, should you be in receipt of certain benefits it could even be free. Apply online today for a free, no obligation home survey. http://eagainsulation.com/
* Prices are based upon standard property sizes and are subject to survey and grant availability. Price excludes scaffolding. Valid for owner occupier or private renting tenants only. Additional costs may apply for larger properties or an existing loft insulation thickness of more than 60mm.