Help with Household Bills

If you’re worried about rising household costs you can get help to make your home more fuel efficient and reduce your bills by hundreds of pounds. Simple measures like switching to the right tariff or getting home insulation can help get household bills down.

You can:

· Contact your energy company to check if you are entitled to be on their lower tariffs for those on low incomes.

· Shop around between suppliers to get the best deal for your circumstances

· Find out more about cut price or free insulation and energy efficiency programmes offered by Government, your local council or energy companies.

If you’re concerned about your water bills you can: Investigate whether switching to a meter, could help you save money. All households are eligible to request a water meter free of charge from their supplier.

More information can be found on the Consumer Council for Water’s website.

Support Available

  · WARM FRONT

The Government provides grants of up to £2700 to households on low incomes to help improve energy efficiency under a scheme called Warm Front.

  · CERT / ENERGY SAVING TRUST

Government has obliged energy companies to invest in energy efficiency measures such as loft insulation provided for a wide range of households. You may be eligible to get cut-price deals which could help save hundreds of pounds on fuel bills. Contact the Energy Saving Trust.

  · SOCIAL TARIFF

Energy companies now offer special deals for those on the lowest income. Contact your energy company for more details.

Local Councils may also offer local help.

Pensioners: If you are a pensioner you are also eligible for additional help including direct cash support:

· You can get a Winter Fuel Payments of £200 for households with someone aged 60 or over, or £300 if 80 or over

· Also this autumn an additional one-off payment of £100 to households with someone aged 80 or over and £50 to households with someone aged 60 or over, to be paid alongside your normal Winter Fuel Payment.

Useful Numbers

Warmfront

www.warmfront.co.uk

0800 316 2805

Energy Saving Trust

For free, independent and local energy saving advice, including how to access deals on discounted or free insulation

www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

0800 512 012

Energy Watch

For advice on how to reduce your bill by switching supplier or getting the best deal

www.energywatch.org.uk

08459 06 07 08

Consumer Council for Water

 The Consumer Council for Water takes up consumers’ complaints if they have tried and failed to resolve issues with their water and sewerage companies.

 www.ccwater.org.uk

0845 039 2837

Useful Numbers

FSA

www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk

www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk/mortgages

0845 606 1234

Citizens Advice Bureau

(CAB) www.adviceguide.org.uk  

National Debtline

www.nationaldebtline.co.uk

0808 808 4000

Shelter

www.shelter.org.uk

0808 800 4444

Jobcentre Plus

(SMI) www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk

The Pension Service

(SMI) www.thepensionservice.gov.uk

Community Legal Advice

(CLA) http://www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk/

Helpline

 0845 345 4345 CLA centres and networks http://www.legalservices.gov.uk/civil/community_legal_advice_centres_and_networks.asp