Help for the elderly with heating their homes
By Mike Ashworth | May 15, 2009
If you have elderly relatives, it’s never a bad time to ask how they coped with the cold weather over the winter we just had. And although Spring is here, often the nights can be cold and parts of the UK not particularly warm at the best of times.
What follows is a short guide to what’s available in the way of grants and assistance with helping them to insulate their homes and generally save money on household heating costs.
Many of the elderly are especially vulnerable to the cold so have a read through the following list and let one of your family know about the help on offer.
Help the Aged
Help the Aged has a information pack titled “3 steps to a warmer winter” and you can down load it here (.pdf 1.7Mb)
Winter Fuel Payments
Everyone over 60 should claim the Winter Fuel Payment and there are many other benefits and grants to which you may be entitled. Call the Help the Aged SeniorLine to find out more on 0808 800 6565.
Energy Saving Trust: Search for Grants and offers
There is financial help available if you’re planning to make energy saving improvements to your home. The Government, energy suppliers and local authorities all provide grants to help you implement energy saving measures in your home. Click here for more information.
Here to Help Programme from British Gas: Free insulation
If you or someone in your household is a British Gas customer and receives an income or disability related benefit, or is over 70, they could help you improve the efficiency of heating your home and cut your bills too.
Unlike other energy efficiency schemes, the ‘Here to HELP’ programme offers ree energy efficient products and a quality of life assessment with practical help from major UK charities, their benefit entitlement team and other services from British Gas. Click here for more information.
If you’re interested in this programme and want to find out if you are eligible, please call them on 0845 605 2535 quoting reference HTHH.
Energy Suppliers
EDF is now fitting free cavity wall and loft insulation to homes of customers on qualifying benefits as well as for people over 70. Click here for more information.
Other Energy Suppliers also have similar schemes.
Home Heat Helpline
The Energy Retail Association, which represents energy suppliers, has set up the Home Heat Helpline (0800 33 66 99). It is a free national helpline for vulnerable customers having difficulties paying their fuel bills. For more information click here.
Affordable Energy
Affordable Energy is a Grant Scheme for Private Households and Private Landlords UK wide. It is run by Climate Energy in conjunction with many Local Authorities and brings discounted heating, grant assisted insulation and solar hot water packages to householders who would not normally qualify for a grant.
If you are over 70 regardless of income, you can qualify for free cavity wall and loft insulation. Further information here.
Warm front (England)
Consumers in England who need help paying for heating and insulation improvements and live in a privately owned or rented home, may be able to get money from the government’s Warm Front grants scheme if, for example, they are receiving any of a range of benefits such as income or disability-related benefits. For more information click here.
Energy Assistance Package (Scotland)
The Energy Assistance Package has recently replaced “Warm Deal”. The Energy Assistance Package combines energy efficiency measures with reducing energy bills, particularly for those on income-related benefits. For more information click here.
Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (Wales)
Consumers in Wales may be eligible for assistance under the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES). This is a Welsh Assembly Government funded initiative aimed at making homes in Wales warmer, healthier and more energy efficient. The HEES grant provides a package of heating and insulation improvements up to the value of £3,600. For more information contact the Home Energy Efficiency Society on 0800 316 2815 or go to their website.
Priority Service Register (PSR)
If you are of pensionable age, disabled or chronically sick you can qualify for the Priority Service Register (PSR) by ringing your gas and electricity companies.
Customers on the register are entitled to additional services free of charge, such as:
- free annual gas safety checks for qualifying customers,
- password schemes,
- bills available in large print and braille as well as talking bills,
- quarterly meter reading services (if no person occupying the premises is able to read the meter),
- having a prepayment meter moved to improve access,
- bill nominee scheme, and
- priority in an emergency (this could include providing alternative heating and cooking facilities in the event of supply disconnection).
Suppliers are also prohibited from disconnecting a premises occupied by a customer eligible for the PSR during the winter months (1 October - 31 March).
Local council grants
There may also be other grants for the home available from your local council. As councils can offer different funding, search for details on its website or contact them to ask for more information.
To find your local council’s details enter your postcode in the DirectGov website.
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