Burys affordable warmth strategy, has been developed by Bury councils environmental services. The strategy has been developed to help alleviate the borough's fuel poverty, deliver affordable warmth for all residents and ensure that the benefits of energy efficiency measures are brought to the attention of all households.
Keeping warm in winter
The department of health runs a freephone winter warmth advice line on:
- Telephone: 0800 085 7000
- TextPhone: 0800 085 7857
The department of health also produce a Keep Warm Keep Well winter guide booklet. Below is a summary of some of the guidance from the booklet:
Keeping a warm home
Getting and keeping your home warm for Winter.
There are a range of things that can be done to help keep your home warmer during winter. If you need help, contact your local council or the organisations listed at the end of this guide. They may also be able to advise you whether a grant may be available to help pay for the work.
Take these steps to get your home ready for winter
- Fit draughtproofing to help seal gaps around windows and doors.
- Lay insulation in the loft to reduce heat loss.
- Ensure your hot water cylinder and pipes are lagged, including pipes in the loft.
- Check your heating system is working properly and serviced at least once a year. (Your gas or electricity supplier may offer free safety checks.)
- Make sure you know how to set the heating controls.
Buying new heaters or fires
If you're planning to buy individual fires or heaters, call the energy efficiency advice centre: Freephone 0800 512 012 to help you choose what's best for your home. Your local energy company will also give advice.
- If you're a tenant, check with your landlord what they can provide, and that there are no restrictions on the types of heater you can have.
- If you're buying an electric heater ensure it has a thermostat.
- If you're buying a new open fire, check it has air control to regulate the burning rate.
- For specialist advice, call the Solid Fuel Association: 0845 601 4406 (local call charges apply).
Financial help for a warmer home
Warm front scheme (WFS)
The Warm Front Scheme (WFS) was launched on 1 June 2000 and is available to households in England in receipt of a qualifying income-related or disability benefit.
Grants are available from the Government's WFS scheme to help older people and some others with the cost of making their homes warmer.
Warm front plus grant
Grants of up to £2,700 to cover the cost of insulation measures such as loft, cavity wall and draughtproofing and, where appropriate, installing a central heating system in the main living areas. To be eligible you must be aged 60 or over and in receipt of an income-related benefit.
Warm front grant
Grants up to £1,500 are also available for households if you are in receipt of a qualifying disability benefit; or if you have a child under 16 living with you, or are pregnant, and the householder receives a qualifying benefit.
The scheme is run by the Eaga Partnership who can help make your application, and arrange for the work to be done. For information call: Freephone 0800 072 0151 (Eaga Partnership).
* Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own separately funded schemes
Local council grants
If you have a low income, your local council may be able to offer financial help for:
- house renovation and improvement, including insulation
- installing disabled facilities that help people to live independently in their own home
- home repair assistance for small work.
The grant will vary according to the cost of the work and your own financial circumstances.
Contact your local council for more details and an application form. Or, if you prefer, ask a friend, relative or helper to call on your behalf. Age Concern may be able to help with any paperwork.
If you apply for a grant, don't start any work before your application is approved.
The local council may need to send someone to inspect your home. Always ask for proof of identity before letting anyone in.
Keep warm, heat well
These are recommendations on how best to heat your home. It will help if you have a room thermometer in your main living room.
If you can, try to keep a temperature of 21ºC (70ºF) in all the rooms you use during the day.
If you can't, at least keep your living room warm throughout the day and warm your bedroom and bed before going to bed.
Keep your bedroom window closed at night in winter; it's when temperatures reach their lowest.
Use an electric blanket OR a hot water bottle in bed, but NEVER both together. Many electric blankets are designed only to warm the bed before you get in; if yours is like that, turn it off before you get into bed.
If you have central heating, these tips will help keep winter at bay.
- Set the thermostat at around 21ºC (70ºF).
- If a room gets too warm, turn the thermostat down.
- Set the timer to come on before you get up and switch off when you go to bed.
- In very cold weather set the heating to come on earlier, rather than turning the thermostat up higher.
If you have an open coal fire, try to keep the grate filled to a depth of 3 to 4 inches (75-100 mm) of fuel. Use the air control to set the burning rate. And remember to have your chimney swept at least once a year. Call the Solid Fuel Association on 0845 601 4406 (local call charges apply) for more advice.
Take care
- to put guards on all open fires
- not to sit too close to a fire
- not to hang washing to dry too close to fires. It will cause condensation as well as being a fire risk
- not to block up any air bricks in your walls.
Help with heating bills
Winter fuel payment
The government is again in 2005-06 making winter fuel payments this winter to provide help for older people with their heating bills. The payment will, as last year, be £200 for each household. If you are 60, and you normally live in Great Britain, you may be entitled to a payment – whether or not you are receiving any social security benefits.
People aged 80 or over who are entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment will also get an extra payment of up to £100. This will be paid with the Winter Fuel Payment automatically, without the need for a separate claim.
You should get your payment automatically, before Christmas, if you receive State Pension or other social security benefit (except Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, or Child Benefit). You should also be paid automatically if you have received a payment in a previous year and your circumstances have not changed. If you don't fall into these categories, then you should make a claim.
Winter Fuel Payments will be made over a number of weeks. So don't worry if you receive your payment at a different time to someone else in your household, or other people who live near you.
- Do use this money for heating your home; it will help you to keep well this winter.
- A period of very cold weather is when the average temperature is, or is forecast to be, 0ºC (32ºF) or below over seven consecutive days.
If you're not sure whether or how to make a claim, or if you want advice, call the Winter Fuel Payments Helpline
08459 15 15 15 (textphone 0845 601 5613). Have your pension book (if you have one) or National Insurance number ready when you call. The line is open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm. Charges are the same as for local calls.
Cold Weather Payment
If you are receiving Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, with either a pensioner premium or disability premium, or have a child under five, or you are receiving Pension Credit, you may be eligible for cold weather payments of £8.50 for each period of very cold weather. It will be paid automatically.
Budget schemes
Your electricity and gas companies will have payment schemes which enable fuel costs to be spread evenly over the full year, rather than peaking in winter. Ask them for details of this and other budget or savings schemes.
Other financial support
Other financial support is available for people with a very low income. This support is not directly connected with heating costs, but this may be a good time to find out if you are eligible.
Income Support
If you are aged 60 or over you may be entitled to Pension Credit. Pension Credit is a new entitlement which replaces the Minimum Income Guarantee from 6 October 2003. Pension Credit provides a contribution towards a guaranteed level of income. If you are aged 65 and over, Pension Credit also provides a reward for some of the savings and income you have for your retirement.
The Government is writing to pensioner households between April 2003 and July 2004 with more details about Pension Credit to help you decide whether or not to apply. Full details of how to apply are in the letter.For more information, get leaflet PC1L Pick it up.
It's yours from your social security or Jobcentre Plus office, or the Pension Service
To apply for Pension Credit you can phone the Pension Credit Application Line on 0800 99 1234.
Grants and loans
In some circumstances, community care grants, budgeting loans or crisis loans may be available. Call the winter warmth advice line for information.
Benefit Enquiry Line
A confidential telephone helpline is available giving advice on benefits for people with disabilities and their carers. Freephone 0800 88 22 00. Textphone 0800 24 33 55. The Minimum Income Guarantee Claim Line can also help Freephone 0800 028 1111.
What to do if you fall behind with bills
If you have gas or electricity bills that you can't pay, let your supplier know. They will want to help you find a way of settling the amount, perhaps by spreading out repayment over a longer period. It is best to contact them quickly rather than let the debt mount up.
Gas and electricity companies will not disconnect supply to all-pensioner households in the winter. Make sure they know that you are a pensioner.
If you want independent advice, contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau, Age Concern, or energywatch (the gas and electricity consumers watchdog).
