CASH IN
Full list of free cash worth up to £3,225 that could hit bank accounts by Christmas – how to apply
Support is available for those struggling with winter expenses
Millions of households could be in line for cost-of-living payments worth up to £3,225 this winter.
For those under financial pressure, several schemes offering support to help you get through the cold period.
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With additional heating costs, not to mention Christmas expenses, the winter months can mean additional financial pressure.
For some this will be exacerbated by the government's decision to limit the number of people who receive the £300 winter fuel payment from this year.
The support available includes the following...
Warm home discount - worth £150
The £150 warm home discount is available to pensioners and those on low incomes.
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Those who qualify for the discount will have £150 deducted from their energy bills by the end of March 2025.
You'll be eligible if you receive the guarantee credit element of Pension Credit, or are on a low income and have high energy costs.
The discount should be automatically deducted from your energy bill this winter if your eligible, but those on low-incomes living in need to apply through their energy providers.
If you were eligible for the payment last winter and did not receive it, contact your energy supplier.
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If your energy supplier is unable to help write to the warm home discount scheme on 110552 Warm Home Discount Scheme,
PO Box 26965, Glasgow, G1 9BW.
What is the energy price cap?
Winter fuel payment - £300
This year winter fuel payments will only be made to retirees on Pension Credit and several other means-tested benefits.
Under the new rules, all households claiming the following benefits will automatically receive this year's winter fuel payment, unless they live abroad:
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income-related Employment Support Allowance
- Child tax credit
- Working tax credit
Only those living abroad and meeting certain conditions must apply for the cash this winter.
If you do not live in the UK, you're only eligible for the winter fuel payment if:
- You moved to an eligible country before January 1, 2021
- You were born before September 23, 1958
- You have a genuine and sufficient link to the UK - this can include having lived or worked in the UK and having family in the UK
You only need to claim winter fuel payment if you've not received it since you moved abroad.
To claim by post, you'll need to fill in the winter fuel payment claim form and post it to the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
This will be available at www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/how-to-claim from September 30.
Cold weather payment - £25 a week
Cold weather payments are made to eligible residents in areas where the temperature is recorded at zero degrees Celsius or below, for seven consecutive days.
A £25 payment will be made for each seven day period of very cold weather between November 1 2024 and March 31 2025.
You may be eligible for the payments if you receive:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Universal Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest
Payments are made automatically, so you do not need to apply for the benefit.
Christmas bonus - £10
Those receiving benefits could be eligible for a £10 Christmas bonus.
The Department for Work and Pensions usually pays the bonus during the first full week of December.
If you receive any of the following benefits, the money will be paid automatically into your registered payment account.
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Child Disability Payment
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance
- Incapacity Benefit at the long-term rate
- Industrial Death Benefit
- Mobility Supplement
- Pension Credit - the guarantee element
- Personal Independence Payment
- State Pension
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Unemployability Supplement or Allowance
- War Disablement Pension at State Pension age
- War Widow’s Pension
- Widowed Mother’s Allowance
- Widowed Parent’s Allowance
- Widow’s Pension
The bonus isn’t available to those who receive Universal Credit only but someone on Universal Credit who also receives one of the qualifying benefits will receive it.
Household Support Fund - up to £740
Struggling households can access a range of support to help with the cost of living via the Household Support Fund.
The fund has recently has been extended for the sixth time, with £421million set to be made available to regional councils to distribute from October 2024.
The support you can access depends on where you live, but funds can be paid out as shopping or fuel vouchers, cash payments or other means.
Under the previous round of funding households in Leicester could apply to receive £300 payments to help with utilities and essential costs.
In Plymouth eligible residents could receive a maximum of £740 in vouchers.
This included £240 in supermarket vouchers, £200 in energy vouchers as well as an essential item of household furniture or white goods or £300 of clothing vouchers.
Schemes vary across the country, but every council will receive funding to distribute.
To see what's on offer where you live contact your local council.
Energy grants - up to £2,000
Energy firms are handing out up to £2,000 to help those struggling with energy costs to cover bills.
A number of firms, including British Gas and Octopus Energy, are offering grants and other support.
They have different schemes and different criteria to access help, so you need to check what is offered through your provider.
But many will write off debts or offer grants for as much as £2,000.
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If you're not entitled to financial help this winter there are easy changes you can make to cut energy bills.
From reducing energy consumption to effectively heating your home The Sun's guide can help you cut costs.
How to save on your energy bills
SWITCHING energy providers can sound like a hassle - but fortunately it's pretty straight forward to change supplier - and save lots of cash.
Shop around - If you're on an SVT deal you are likely throwing away up to £250 a year. Use a comparion site such as MoneySuperMarket.com, uSwitch or EnergyHelpline.com to see what deals are available to you.
The cheapest deals are usually found online and are fixed deals - meaning you'll pay a fixed amount usually for 12 months.
Switch - When you've found one, all you have to do is contact the new supplier.
It helps to have the following information - which you can find on your bill - to hand to give the new supplier.
- Your postcode
- Name of your existing supplier
- Name of your existing deal and how much you payAn up-to-date meter reading
It will then notify your current supplier and begin the switch.
It should take no longer than three weeks to complete the switch and your supply won't be interrupted in that time.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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