IL Community News

1) Warm Home Discount Scheme
This scheme provides £120 rebate on electricity bills during winter 2011-2012, for people who qualify.
Check whether you are eligible:
If you receive Pension Credit, you could be eligible for the Warm Home Discount scheme. You definitely qualify, and don't need to make a claim, if you met these conditions on the qualifying date of 11.09.2011:
• you received only the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit (no Savings Credit)
• your electricity bill is in your name or the name of your partner
• you get electricity from a supplier who is in the scheme (listed below)
You should receive a letter before the end of February 2012 confirming the payment. It may ask for additional information (which will be on your electricity bill) in order for the automatic payment to be made to you.
These are the energy suppliers who are participating in the scheme:
Atlantic, British Gas, EDF Energy, E.ON, Equipower, Equigas, Manweb, M&S Energy, npower, Sainsbury's Energy, Scottish Gas, Scottish Hydro, ScottishPower, Southern Electric, SSE, Swalec and Utility Warehouse.
If you don't meet the requirements above, you may still qualify. This is where it gets a bit more complicated! The electricity suppliers all have different rules about which people they include in their Broader Group, as it is called, to receive the discount. People on low incomes with a disability or a long-term illness, or those with children, are examples of groups who may well be included.
This is a link to the Department of Energy and Climate Change website page where you can access details of qualifying criteria for the various electricity suppliers. Phone numbers are included.
The Warm Home Discount Scheme is scheduled to run for 4 years from 2011-2012.

2) Warm Front Scheme (WFS)
A government-funded scheme in England aimed at improving the warmth of homes that are affected by fuel poverty (spending more than 10% of disposable income on heating). In Wales, there is an alternative Home Energy Efficiency Scheme, which provides grants in a similar manner. Other schemes operate in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
You can be awarded:
£3,500 or up to £6,000 for oil-fired central heating, low carbon or renewable technology heating solutions.
Check whether you are eligible:
If you have a child under 16 or are at least 26 weeks pregnant, have a maternity certificate MAT B1 and also receive one or more of the following benefits you could get a Warm Front grant:
• Income Support
• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Benefit
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Pension Credit
OR
If you own or privately rent your home and receive one or more of the following benefits:
• Working Tax Credit (with a disability element and a household income less than £16,040)
• Child Tax Credit (with a household income less than £16,040 a year)
• Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance
• Income Support (which must include a disability element)
• Housing Benefit (which must include a disability element)
• Council Tax Benefit (which must include a disability element)
• War Disablement Pension (which must include the mobility supplement or Constant Attendance Allowance)
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (which must include constant attendance allowance)
OR
If you are aged 60 or over, and receive any of the following benefits:
• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Benefit
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Pension Credit
What the Warm Front Grant can be used for:
Depending on your individual circumstances, the grant may be used for
Insulation
• loft insulation
• draught proofing
• cavity-wall insulation
• hot-water-tank insulation
Heating systems
• gas room heaters with thermostat controls
• gas, electric or oil central heating
• converting a solid-fuel open fire to a modern glass-fronted fire
• timer controls for electric space and water heaters
Phone for more information about applying:
You can find out over the phone whether you qualify. Then you will need to complete an application form, before an adviser visits you to assess the works that are needed to make your home warmer.
Freephone 0800 316 2805, textphone 0800 072 0156
These freephone numbers are run by the Eaga Partnership, who manage the Warm Front Scheme. The lines are open from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm, Monday to Friday.

3) Grants for Home Insulation
The government has confirmed that grants for loft and cavity wall insulation will be available for households that are eligible at least until 2011.
Different schemes operate around Britain, and eligibility criteria vary slightly, so you will need to check on an individual basis. You need to be a homeowner or renting from a private sector landlord, aged over 70, or receiving particular benefits, such as:
Attendance Allowance
Council Tax Benefit
Disability Living Allowance
Housing Benefit
Pension Credit
Income Support
Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
Child Tax Credit (with household income less than £14,600 per annum)
Working Tax Credit (with household income less than £14,600 per annum)
Up to £2700 per qualifying household is provided by the government to improve the loft and cavity wall insulation in line with current Building Regulations.
If you don't receive the qualifying benefits, you can still get help with bringing your home insulation up to standard – you will be asked to make a payment to yourself, of between £249 and £349 depending on where you live, what sort of property and heating system, and how much extra insulation is required.
Big energy suppliers are obliged by the government's Energy Efficiency Commitment to meet targets for reducing home energy use, so they offer various schemes which reduce the cost of energy efficiency measures quite significantly. You don't have to be a customer of the energy company in order to take up their offer.
You can find out what is available by contacting organisations such as
Home Energy Saver Network, telephone: 08081 10 20 30

EnergyLink, telephone 0844 533 2909

Home Insulation Grants, telephone 0800 612 1062

4) Grants From your Local Council
If your income is low, the local authority may be able to give you a grant for:
• improving your home, including insulation
• if you or a member of your household is disabled, to fit your home with equipment to make life easier
• getting small repair jobs done
You need to contact your local authority to find out how to apply.
Organisations such as Age Concern or Mencap may be able to help with the paperwork.
If you apply for a grant, don’t start any work before the application is approved.
The council may send someone to inspect the premises - get their ID before you let them in.

5) Tips to Help Avoid the Scary Fuel Bills...
• Don't set the thermostat that controls your heating higher than 20°C (68°F). Thermostats are often in silly places, like the entrance hall, so keep an eye on the actual temperature in your living room (keep a thermometer in there). You may find that the temperature there is well over 20°C as the boiler is trying to heat your draughty hall up to the required temperature... Experiment with reducing the temperature on the thermostat until you find the right balance, to keep the room you are actually using warm enough.
• Set your heating system to come on before you get up in the morning, and go off when you go to bed.
• Only turn on the radiator to warm your bedroom before you go to bed - an hour or so should do, depending on the weather outside. Warm your bed as well, with a hot water bottle or an electric blanket.
• Keep your bedroom window closed at night - keeping the bedroom door open will give you sufficient ventilation.
• If you have an open coal fire keep it well filled up – about 3 to 4 inches (70-100mm), and use the air control to make it burn higher or lower.
• Have your chimney swept once a year, so that it burns efficently and safely. For more tips, you can call the Solid Fuel Association for free on 0800 600 000.
• You can get help with winter home heating bills:
1. Winter Fuel Payment
2. Cold Weather Payment
Budget Schemes
For anyone who is worried about paying the gas or electricity bill, there is a free Home Heat Helpline
which you can call yourself, or on behalf of a relative, friend or patient. The number is 0800 33 66 99
and it is open from 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 2pm on Saturdays. The minicom number is 0800 027 2122
The electricity and gas companies have payment schemes which enable people to spread payments more evenly over the year instead of having them peak in winter. Ask your supplier for details.
If you run into problems with paying your gas or electricity bills, let the supplier know quickly before the amount builds up. They’ll want to help find a solution, perhaps by spreading out repayments. They won’t disconnect all-pensioner households in the winter.