Low Income
Those in receipt of certain means-tested benefits (excludes Northern Ireland) it’s paid automatically into the account that your benefits are paid into. If you haven’t received it but think you should, you can report a missing payment.
- £301 from 25 April 2023
- £300 from 31 October 2023
- £299 in spring 2024
Pensioners born on or before 5 October 1957 are entitled to a winter fuel payment of up to £600. This winter, an additional £300 top-up is included. Those eligible will receive an automatic payment in November or December 2023.
See MSE below
| If between 18 and 24 September 2023 you: | Born between 25 September 1943 and 24 September 1957 | Born on or before 24 September 1943 |
| Lived alone (or none of the people you lived qualify). | £500 | £600 |
| Lived with someone under 80 who also qualifies. | £250 | £350 |
| Lived with someone 80 or over who also qualifies. | £250 | £300 |
| Lived in a care home but didn’t receive pension credit, income support, jobseeker’s allowance or income-related employment and support allowance. | £250 | £300 |
A supplementary disability benefit payment of £150 was available for a limited time and is now closed for new applications.
PermalinkDuring extremely cold periods, we understand the need for extra heating. The Cold Weather Payment provides you with £25 for every 7 consecutive days with temperatures at or below 0 degrees. This is paid automatically, Between November and March, within 14 days of each cold weather period.
PermalinkIf eligible, you will automatically receive a rebate of £150 through the Warm Home Discount Scheme from your energy provider.
PermalinkWe offer grants designed to help you manage and pay off energy-related debts, ensuring that you can maintain a warm and secure living environment.
For more information, Please contact the team.
PermalinkEnergy Debt
Grants to help you pay off energy debts
If you have large arrears on your gas, electricity or water bills, the following energy companies offer grants and schemes to help you to repay your debt.
- British Gas Energy Trust – you don’t have to be a customer
- Npower: Npower Energy Fund
- Scottish Power Scottish Power Hardship Fund
- E.on E.on Energy Fund
- EDF Energy EDF Energy Trust
For more information, Please contact the Home Energy Team
This fund is available to anyone, it offers grants of up to £1,500 to help with energy debt. Eligibility criteria is quite strict, but generally, to access the scheme you need to be spending more than 10% of your income on energy, have less than £1,000 in savings, have energy debts of at least £250 and have already sought advice on money issues from a charity or money advisor. You also can’t have received a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust within the last two years.
We would advise speaking to a charity to make an application such as National Energy Action or Citizens Advice.
PermalinkYou can contact Green Doctors if you are on a low income and would like help to:
- Switching your energy tariff to a better deal
- Reduce your energy use at home
- Access the Warm Homes Discount or Priority Services Register
- Apply for energy or water debt relief
- Prepayment Energy Vouchers
For more information, please contact the home energy team.
PermalinkThe Priority Services Register is designed for residents who fulfill specific criteria, including receiving a pension, having disabilities, chronic illnesses, long-term medical conditions, hearing/visual impairments, or additional communication needs, and being in a vulnerable situation.
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