You may be eligible for a £140 discount on your gas or electricity bill this winter – for the months between October and March. The Warm Home Discount Scheme is scheduled to open on 18 October but many suppliers have already opened their applications. Do check with your supplier as early as possible, as they are available on a first come first served basis.
There are two ways to qualify for the Warm Home Discount Scheme:
- you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit – known as the ‘core group’
- you’re on a low income and meet your energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme – known as the ‘broader group’.
How you apply for the Warm Home Discount Scheme depends on how you qualify for the discount.
To find full details go to www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme
Energy advice in Fenland, Huntingdonshire and northern Cambridgeshire
If you live in Fenland or Huntingdonshire, PECT (working in partnership with Fenland District Council) can help you with energy advice service. PECT is also offering this service in Northern Cambridgeshire thanks to funding from the Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme.
PECT aims to support people to maintain a warmer home, so they can experience the associated health benefits and reduce their energy bills, in particular over the winter period.
This service is vital, because NHS advice suggests that when the weather drops below 8°C, some people are at increased risk of physical and mental health conditions; such as heart attack, stroke, pneumonia and depression. There is substantial evidence of the detrimental impact of fuel poverty on the physical and mental health of residents.
The free service aims to offer help and advice on behavioural changes, choosing the best energy tariff and supplier, managing water bills, and where eligible it can assist you to access the national £140 Warm Home Discount and other funding opportunities.
You can email [email protected] or call 0800 8021773 or 01733 568408 (ext. 313)
