Left IN THE Cold Rising energy prices have many of us on edge, but help for vulnerable people is available
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ast month, it was announced that the energy cap would rise significantly as of April by a staggering £693 - a borderline catastrophic rise of 54%, with some reports stating that it could increase again after a review later in the year. Vulnerable people will be disproportionately affected by the rise: older people, chronically ill and disabled people, and people living close to the poverty line may be worried about how they can afford to heat their homes, or be rationing energy in a way that leaves them vulnerable to the effects of cold weather. The thought of being unable to afford bills is terrifying for some, and the knock-on effect to other aspects of health and wellbeing can cause real concern, but there are ways to get help.
CONTACT THE SUPPLIER One of the primary pieces of advice given to people in the wake of the price rise announcements by all suppliers was that if you cannot afford your gas and electricity bill, you should contact them. If someone is in debt to their energy supplier, they will often allow this debt to be paid off in instalments, and are obligated to take into account how much you can afford to pay them, and how much energy you will likely use in the future. This will allow them to continue using power and chipping away at the debt, which can hopefully provide some relief, but if the repayment plan is still too much, the supplier may be open to negotiating the move to a
less costly deal, or may insist that a pre-payment metre is installed. However, it’s worth noting that Ofgem suggests that paying by Direct Debit usually works out to be cheaper, and - if it’s possible - it may also be cheaper to install a smart meter, but people who live in rented accommodation might not be able to get this.
SCHEMES AND BENEFITS There are an assortment of benefits and schemes available, especially for vulnerable and elderly people who may struggle to cover their bills. These schemes differ between the four nations of the United Kingdom, and vary quite a bit in how much they cover. The Winter Fuel Payment is likely the most well known: this benefit sees people who were born on or before 26 September 1955 a payment of between £100 and £300 to cover part of their fuel bills; the Warm Home Discount is a similar benefit which will see people who receive Pension Credits and other benefits get a £140 discount on their energy bill. The Cold Weather Payment can also see households receive a £25 payment for seven-day periods of cold weather that have occurred between November and March - this may be particularly handy after the winter we’ve just had.
REACH OUT Speaking to charities for help, advice and resources can provide valuable assistance: Turn2Us have a tool on their website that allows people to search for grants that can help them, and some other charities may be able to offer grants to cover part of the debt. Additionally, specialist debt charities like National Debtline can offer valuable advice and education on budgeting and debt management.
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