People of state pension age – which is currently 66 for both men and women – could be missing out on around £600 in help to deal with the rising cost of winter bills including fuel costs.
Pensioners can claim Winter Fuel Payments, Warm Home Discount Scheme, and Cold Weather Payments, among others to help with rising bills.
Around 62 percent of elderly individuals have cut back on heating to cope with financial constraints, potentially compromising their health, new research has found.
According to recent research by Oak Tree Mobility pensioners might not be aware of the help they can have access to.
Over 75s are expected to spend eight perent of their total household income on bills during winter, despite receiving government assistance, The Resolution Foundation found.
What help can you claim?
To be eligible, a person must have been born before September 25, 1957, and lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of September 18 to 24, 2023.
The one-off payment is tax-free and will not affect a person’s other benefit payments.
Claimants can get £500 if they were born between September 25, 1943 and September 24, 1957 or £600 if they were born before September 25, 1943. For eligibility requirements, Britons can check the Government website.
Warm Home Discount Scheme:
The scheme opens on October 16, 2023, and involves most energy suppliers applying a discount of £150 to eligible customers’ bills.
With costs having almost doubled since the start of last year, the support will provide some much-needed relief for those struggling with rising expenses.
In England and Wales, people might qualify if they receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit. They may also qualify if they’re on low income and receive other means-tested benefits, such as Universal Credit, and have high energy costs.
Cold Weather Payments
Eligible people will get their payment automatically when the average temperature in their area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below over seven consecutive days.
The Christmas Bonus
Council tax reduction
How much council tax support someone gets depends on things like their income, who else lives with them and how much they have in savings.
Verity Kick, marketing director at Oak Tree Mobility said: “Winter can be tough, especially for our elderly loved ones. Cold days mean high heating bills and icy paths can turn a simple shopping trip into a risky task. These challenges, alongside the health issues that cold weather can bring, can make winter particularly hard and costly for the elderly.
“That’s why, at Oak Tree Mobility, we think it’s crucial to offer extra help during these chilly months. It’s more than just lending a hand; it’s about making sure our elderly neighbours and relatives are safe, warm, and stress-free during winter. By giving a bit of our time and support, we can make their lives a little easier and their winter days a bit warmer.”
A significant 54 percent of the elderly (around 8.8 million people) anticipate that the rising cost of living will affect their health and care needs, with some reducing or stopping their social care due to escalating costs.
With many unaware of this financial help, they are urged to check what they can claim to help relieve any pressure.
