Winter Fuel Payments may be gone for some but there is other help available for fuel bills.
You will have seen in the news the Government’s announcement to scrap the winter fuel payment for all pensioners other than those receiving a qualifying benefit, in most cases this will be pension credit.
Recent changes
Winter Fuel Payment is an annual tax-free payment for households that include someone born on or before 22 September 1958 (for 2024-25) and from 2024 onwards, receive Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income- related Employment and Support Allowance, or an award of Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit of at least £26 for the tax year 2024-25.
Winter Fuel Payment is designed to help you cover your heating costs over the winter months and the claimant could get £200 towards bills. Someone over 80, could get £300 to help with bills during winter this year. The qualifying week is the week beginning from the third Monday in September. This is 16th to 22nd September 2024
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You should receive your payment between mid-November and Christmas. Call the Winter Fuel Payment Helpline on 0800 731 0160 if you have any enquiries or you don't receive your payment. Winter Fuel Payment: Overview
There may be other help out there, with fuel payments, for struggling families who live in Suffolk, not just pensioners:
The Warm Homes Suffolk programme helps Suffolk residents to make it cheaper to heat their homes through various energy efficiency measures.
Specific support is available through Warm Homes Suffolk for pre-payment meter customers. Pre-payment meter customers who would like support with their energy bills can contact prepay@eastsuffolk.gov.uk to find out more or call Prepay West 07769 365796 or Prepay East 07769 366229. The support covers the whole of Suffolk and is available for all residents, whether they are in social housing, council tenants, owner occupiers or private renters. Find out more about pre-pay energy meter support.
Do you use Oil for your heating? Over 46,000 households in Suffolk do. You may benefit from Community Action Suffolk's community oil buying scheme. They offer pre-payment and direct debit schemes. Please note, they do not offer a ‘buy now, pay later’ scheme. For more infor- mation visit the Community Action Suffolk website.
Oil buying clubs in Suffolk could help reduce the amount you pay as group buying yields better deals. Search for your nearest on the Oil Club website.
In addition to heating costs, there is other help available through the Household Support Fund (HSF) available through the Local Welfare Assistance Scheme (LWAS)
Help for households and cost of living support can give you more information on how to mange the cost of living.
Visit the links above to see what help is available to you. Chat to your family, friends and colleagues - #talkmoney week is a great time to get chatting and finding out more - #DoOneThing
For lots of money-saving tips, also download our FREE 'reducing everyday living costs' booklet and start saving today
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