Selce's Energy Advice Bulletin: Winter Fuel Payment, Pension Credit and Energy Price Cap
Winter Fuel Payments, Pension Credit & New Energy Price Cap
Dear Subscriber,
It's that time of year again when temperatures drop and we start to reach for scarves and jumpers. The coming months will be especially challenging given the cuts Government to the Winter Fuel Payment. In this edition of the Energy Advice Bulletin, we have:
- How to check that a household qualifies for Pension Credit to access the Winter Fuel Payment
- Energy Price Cap information & deadlines for fixed tarrif changes
- Reminder about Selce’s services and how to access them
Warmest wishes, Flavia, on behalf of the Selce Energy Advice Teams
Access to the Winter Fuel Payment
The qualifying week for the Winter Fuel Payment is this week, September 16 - 22.
As many of you have heard the eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment has been made much more stringent this year. For many, this will mean the difference between turning on the heating and living in a cold, damp, unhealthy home.
If you have previously been in receipt of the Winter Fuel Payment and are concerned about your eligibility, please check if you meet the following criteria as soon as possible.
Winter Fuel Payment Eligibility
You can get a Winter Fuel Payment for Winter 2024 to 2025 if you were born before 23 September 1958. You must also live in England or Wales and get one of the following:
- Pension Credit (check if you qualify and apply today via the link below)
- Universal Credit
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
In some circumstances, you might be eligible if you live abroad.
When you will not be eligible
You will not be eligible if you:
- live in Scotland
- have been in hospital getting free treatment for more than a year
- were in prison for the whole of the week of 16 to 22 September 2024
- were living in a care home for the whole time from 24 June to 22 September 2024
If you live in a care home
You can get a Winter Fuel Payment if:
- you get certain benefits and are eligible
- you lived in a care home for less than 13 weeks including the week of 16 to 22 September 2024
Check your Pension Credit eligibility and apply online
Volunteers wanted for Lewisham Council's Pension Credit campaign
Lewisham Council are launching a communications campaign to find people who are eligible for Pension Credit but who aren’t claiming it. About £9.2million of Pension Credit goes unclaimed every year in Lewisham alone. Pension Credit is worth an average £3,900 per household per year – sometimes more. They are also trying to reach ‘influencers’: the friends, family and carers of potential claimants so that they can talk to their mums, dads and grandparents and help them check their eligibility and apply. If you know anyone who is a resident of Lewisham who has claimed Pension Credit recently and who might be willing to record a short video talking about the difference it made, then please click the button below.
They are offering a £25 gift voucher to thank volunteers for their time. Your support is much appreciated.
I am a Lewisham Resident and would like to volunteer for this campaign
Changes to the Energy Price Cap
The Energy Price Cap is due to go up by 10% on October 1st and it is expected to go up by another 3% in January.
If you are on a fixed tarrif, now is the time to check if there are more competitive rates available.
Energy price cap per unit and standing charge 1 July to 30 September 2024
Energy price cap per unit and standing charge 1 October to 31 December 2024
Electricity
22.36 p per kWh 60.12 p daily standing charge
24.50 p per kWh 60.99 p daily standing charge
Gas
5.48 p per kWh 31.41 p daily standing charge
6.24 p per kWh 31.66 p daily standing charge
Check available tarrifs with Uswitch
Contact us for help checking or switching tarrifs.
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