Energy bill prices have shot up, but luckily a price cap is now in place. Although the energy crisis is going to be with us for a while, there are things you can do in these difficult times to keep the elderly warm and your finances protected.
A demographic that is especially vulnerable to high energy bills, fuel poverty, and the cost of living crisis is older people. If older people can’t afford to heat their homes, then this may negatively impact their health, causing severe illness and, in extreme cases, even death.
However, you don’t need to worry. We have put this article together to show you how much support is available and give you some ideas on how you can get help this winter.
What Energy Discount Schemes Are Available?
Warm Home Discount Scheme
Our first recommendation is to apply for the warm home discount scheme. This is a scheme being run by the UK government which enables older people to get £150 off their energy bills from winter 2022 to winter 2023.
You must apply for this scheme, and you must meet a certain eligibility criterion to be accepted. For example, you must be classed as “low income”. You can view the requirements and register for the scheme through the government website here.
Household Support Fund
The household support fund has been extended to March 31st 2023. It is a scheme that has been put in place by the government to allow local councils to support struggling households during the cost of living crisis.
Different councils have different criteria and ways they distribute the money. For example, Calderdale Council will make a one-off payment to families with children. This payment is £50 per child for families with housing benefits.
Check with your local council to discover how the Household Support Fund is helping older people in your area who are struggling with the cost of living crisis and fuel poverty.
Cold Weather Payments
The Cold Weather Payments Scheme has been set up by the government to support people on certain benefits, like pension credit or income support.
Cold Weather Payments is an especially useful scheme for people suffering under fuel poverty and the cost of living crisis. It pays you £25 for every 7 days of cold weather between 1st November 2022 and 31st of March 2023. Cold weather is classed as a temperature of zero degrees Celsius or below.
The Energy Price Cap
The energy price cap limits what your supplier can charge you. This was put in place to stop energy costs from skyrocketing to an unaffordable price, especially for older people.
The UK government has capped energy prices so that the average bill is now £2,500. This is close to £1,000 less than what energy prices would have been if this cap wasn’t put in place. Like many of the other schemes mentioned, it is only expected to last until the 31st of March 2023.
Apply For a Winter Fuel Payment
You don’t need to apply for Winter Fuel Payment as you’ll receive it automatically if you meet certain criteria. The winter fuel payment is not new. If you were born on or before 25 September 1956 you could get between £250 and £600 to help you pay your heating bills. This is known as a ‘Winter Fuel Payment’. The amount that you’ll receive varies, The amount you’ll get includes a ‘Pensioner Cost of Living Payment’. This is between £150 and £300. You’ll only get this extra amount in winter 2022 to 2023
Keep Your Loved Ones Safe This Winter
Another solution that we recommend is our Assurelink home monitors. They are installed in homes to track movement between rooms, the opening of doors, and measure the temperature of the home. This gives older people independence as it doesn’t restrict what they can do or invade on their privacy. It also gives you peace of mind. If there hasn’t been a movement for a while or the front door is opened late at night, the app will alert you and you can check in on the person.
Click here to discover more about our monitors and how they will keep your elderly loved ones safe and warm this winter.
