Fuel Pverty

 Staying Warm and Well this Winter

Officers guide to the fuel and utility support and advise for Brent residents this winter

 Version: 1.0

Last updated: 27 January 2022

  

 Intro

• Around 1 in 5 households in Brent experience fuel poverty

• Residents experiencing fuel poverty generally can’t afford to keep their homes warm, well lit, or are

sacrificing other living costs to do so – such as buying food and clothes

• The three main drivers for fuel poverty are:

• Low income

• High energy bills

• Energy inefficient homes

• A cold home is linked with poor health and wellbeing, including increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, asthma, and developing other respiratory infections

• It is recommended to heat your home between 18 to 21 degrees to stay warm and well

• This guide can be used to provide you with the relevant information to support conversations with

residents about staying warm and well this winter.

• Use the home page to navigate the document

   

 Home page

Click on the link to learn more about each scheme

  Local Support Schemes

 • Brent Resident Support Fund apply for a grant or

loan to support residents this winter

• Brent Hubs (incl. emergency fuel vouchers for pre payment meters)

   National Support Schemes

 • Winter Fuel Payment payment between £100-£300 to help pay with heating bills

• Warm Home Discount a deduction from your energy bill for those in receipt of low income or in receipt of pension credit

• Cold Weather Payment a payment of £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather

• Support paying off existing energy debt if you are in

debt, you might be able to get a grant to help you pay it off

• Help with Water bills discount off your water bill

• Priority services register

• Green Homes Grant

         Independent Support Agencies

 • Green Doctors expert energy advisors helping households to save money, stay warm, and improve energy efficiency at home

• SHINE support with discount applications, fuel debt, and energy saving tips

• Advise 4 Renters

• Citizens Advice Brent

• NEA – Warm Welcome

     Useful information

 • Spot the signs that someone may be struggling to keep their home warm

• How to check who your energy supplier is

• Top tips to reduce your energy usage and stay warm

• Check you’re getting the best deal on your energy bills

          

  Brent Resident Support Fund

Overview:

The Brent Resident Support fund is available to Brent residents who are having difficulty due to unforeseen financial circumstances this winter. Brent residents can apply for support with energy bills and other household expenditure, including grants, loans, and digital inclusion package.

Eligibility Criteria:

 Brent Resident aged 18 or over

 have less than £6,000 in savings

 need support in meeting your day to day living expenses including food and utility

bills

 are not seeking support to pay for an excluded item

 are willing to meet any reasonable conditions concerning the payment award, for

example, support from advice agencies

How to apply:

You can apply for this fund using the online application form

Brent Hubs can assist residents who may require additional support in completing an online application

      

  Brent Hubs

 Overview:

Brent hubs can provide support and advice to Brent residents who are struggling to pay their utility bills this winter. Support includes:

• Assistance with completing funding applications for support from local and national schemes, including the Brent Resident Support Fund

• Referral routes to other advisory agencies who specialise in energy support such as Green Doctors and SHINE

• Urgent support with topping up pre-payment gas and electricity meters Eligibility Criteria:

 Brent Resident

How to access support:

Brent Hubs operate a drop-in service

Alternatively, to speak to someone from the Brent Hubs team, residents can call 020 8937 1234. Telephones are open Monday to Friday, from 11am to 3pm.

  

  Winter Fuel Payment

Overview:

A tax-free payment between £100-£300 to help pay with heating bills. It’s not means tested and you can get it if you’re still working or claiming a benefit.

How much you get will depend on your circumstances. You should get the payment automatically if you get the State Pension or another social security benefit. If you don’t get it automatically, you will need to make a claim.

Eligibility Criteria:

 Born on or before 26 September 1955

How to apply:

More information on in the Winter Fuel Payment, including how to apply, is availible on the government’s website.

   

  Warm Home Discount Scheme

Overview:

You could get £140 off your energy bills or a voucher for households with a prepayment meter.

Eligibility Criteria:

 you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit

 you’re on a low income and meet your energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme

How to apply:

If you’re in receipt of Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit you will get a letter telling you how to apply for the discount.

If you’re on low income, you should check with your energy supplier to see if you’re eligible and how to apply.

More information on the Warm Home Discount Scheme is available on the government’s website.

    

  Cold Weather Payment

 Overview:

You may be eligible for a payment of £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March

Eligibility Criteria:

If you get any of the following benefits:

 Pension Credit

 Income Support

 income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

 income-related Employment and Support Allowance  Universal Credit

How to apply:

These payments are made automatically and you do not have to do anything in order to get them.

More information on the Cold Weather Payment is available on the government’s

website

  

Support paying off existing energy

debt

If you are in debt to your energy supplier, you might be able to get a grant from a charitable trust to help you pay it off.

British Gas Energy Trust provides grants to households that are currently receiving advise from a money advise agency and are able to meet the costs of their energy bills in the future.

There are also companies who offer grants specifically for their own customers. Most companies have a requirement for you to seek advise from a money advise agency before contacting them for support.

Follow the links below for further information on each energy providers schemes, or contact your energy provider directly:

• Ovo Energy Fund

• E-on energy fund

• EDF Customer Support Fund

• Bulb Energy Fund

• SSE / Southern Electric help

          

  Help with Water Bills

Overview:

WaterHelp may be able to reduce your costs. Even if you pay your water bills through your rent, you can apply and if you are successful you will receive the discount as a reduction in your rent.

Eligibility Criteria:

To qualify you must be:

 a Thames Water customer

 have household income below £19,747

 in receipt of certain benefits or living with a child under 5, someone with a disability,

or an adult over 62.

How to apply:

More information, including how to apply is available on Thames Water’s website

   

  Priority Services Register

Overview:

Offers extra services to some residents free of charge, including priority support in emergencies and regular meter readings

Eligibility Criteria:

To qualify you must meet one of the following:  Pensionable age

 Disabled or chronically sick

 Long term medical condition

 Hearing or visual impairment  Families with children below 5

How to apply:

Contact your energy supplier to be added to their Priority Services Register

  

  Green Homes Grant

Overview:

This scheme gives homeowners living in cold and less efficient homes a £10,000 grant to pay for energy efficient improvements such as low carbon heating systems, insulation and smart heating controls. Private and social landlords may also apply to the scheme on behalf of eligible tenants, receiving a grant of up to £5,000 to help cover two thirds of the works.

Eligibility Criteria:

 If you are living in an home with an energy rating of D, E, F, or G, you may be eligible for the scheme. You can visit the Find an Energy Certificate to check your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating and efficiency recommendations.

 To participate in the scheme, you must have a total annual household income of £30,000 or less.

How to apply:

You can register online or call 0800 233 5655 and ask to be screened for the program

    

  Green Doctors

Overview:

Green Doctors are expert energy advisors who provide advice and support for Londoners; helping them to stay warm and save money on your home energy bills. Support includes, switching energy tariffs, applying for national financial support schemes, advise on energy saving measures, and priority services register.

They offer an initial phone consultation to eligible residents.

Eligibility Criteria:

This service is available for all households in Brent if they meet one or more of the following criteria:

 On a low income (£15,900 or less p/a) or in receipt of any means-tested benefits;

 With a health condition

 People with a disability

 Older people (65 and over)

 Households with children under 5  Pregnant and on low income

How to access support:

More information is available on the Green Doctors website.

To make a referral for a free phone consultation/home visit, call 0300 365 3005, or email greendoctorsldn@groundworks.org.uk, or complete an online form

     

  SHINE

Overview:

The Seasonal Health Intervention Network (SHINE) provides a free energy advice service to help reduce utility bills and tackle energy debt. Eligible residents can book an initial phone assessment to understand what services they are eligible and suitable for. Support includes, applications for discounts and priority services, energy doctor home visits, and fuel debt support.

Eligibility Criteria:

You can access free support and advise if you are living in London and one or more of the following applies to you:

 Your household income is below £16,190

 A member of your household is aged above 60

 A member of your household has a disability or a long term health condition  A member of your household is aged below 15

How to access support:

More information on services available and how to access them is available on SHINE’s website or call 0300 555 0195

   

  Advice for Renters

Overview:

Advice for Renters support people living in private rented accommodation to access legal advice and holistic, person centred support, including advise on heating your home and managing money.

Eligibility Criteria:

 Living in private rented accommodation in London

How to access support:

More information on services available and how to access support is availible on Advice for Renters website or call 0207 624 4327

   

  Citizens Advice Brent

Overview:

Citizens Advice Brent helps people to resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing free, independent, confidential and impartial advice regardless of their backgrounds or circumstances. Advice and guidance includes managing debt and paying bills.

Eligibility Criteria:

N/A

How to access support:

More information is available on CAB’s website or call 020 8438 1249

   

  National Energy Action (NEA) – warm welcome project

Overview:

Free support service, providing advise to households on their energy bills and keeping warm and safe in their home. It also offers training to frontline staff that work with expectant parents. Support for households and caseworkers. Help with applying for national schemes, support with fuel debt, switching suppliers and energy efficiency.

The NEA also provides online training to professionals

Eligibility Criteria:

 Expectant mothers and families with young children on low income

How to apply:

More information on the warm welcome project is available on their website or call 0800 304 7159 or complete the online form

For more information on webinars and training available to professionals click here

    

 Spot the signs that someone may be struggling to keep their home warm

It can be difficult to identify if someone is living in fuel poverty, but here are some signs you can look out for:

• Wearing lots of clothes indoors

• Staying in bed to keep warm

• Complaining that home feels cold, damp or draughty

• Respiratory problems such as asthma or a persistent cough

• Complaining that energy bills are too high or owing money

• Not understanding energy bills

• Feeling isolated and unable to go out and socialise

If you suspect that someone is struggling, reassure them that help is available and encourage them to access all of the support that is available to them.

   

  How to check who your energy provider is

Contact details for your current energy supplier will be on a recent energy bill. Log in to your online account if you don’t get paper bills.

If you don’t know who supplies your energy you can find further guidance on how to check who your energy supplier is here.

  

  Top tips to reduce your energy usage and stay warm

  Heating your home

 •When at home in colder weather your main living space should be kept at 21°C and all other spaces, including bedrooms, at 18°C for health and comfort. Some older people, young children, disabled people or those with a long-term illness may need higher temperatures.

•If you’re too warm turn your room thermostat down to a comfortable temperature for you (but be mindful of recommended temperatures for colder weather).

•Use a timer on your heating controls. Set the heating to come on half an hour before you get up in the morning and half an hour before you will arrive home.

 In the home

 •Turn off appliances when not in use and avoid using stand-by buttons

•Turn off lighting when not in use and use energy saving bulbs

•Close curtains at night and tuck them behind radiators

 In the kitchen

 •Only boil enough water in your kettle for your needs

•A microwave is more cost effective for cooking small items than an electric oven

•Use pan lids to reduce steam and the energy needed for cooking

•Use economy settings (such as 30°C) on washing machines and dry clothing outdoors or in a well-ventilated room

 In the bathroom:

 •Save energy and water by having a quick shower rather than a bath

•Don’t leave hot water taps running when washing

 

  Check your getting the best deal on your energy bills*

Check to see how much you could save by contacting one of the price comparison websites displaying the Ofgem Confidence logo, such as:

www.moneysupermarket.com I 0800 177 7861 www.uswitch.com I 0800 6888 244 www.simplyswitch.com I 0800 111 395