MORE than 400,000 households will be eligible for an energy payment to help with the cost of living this winter.
Dubbed the “Winter Fuel Support Scheme”, Welsh households that are in receipt of certain means-tested benefits will get extra cash.
The Welsh government has doubled the original £100 grant to £100.
In February, the Welsh Government announced £330 million of new measures to help people with the cost of living crisis.
Jane Hutt, the Welsh minister for social justice, allocated £38 million of this new funding into the refreshed Winter Fuel Support Scheme.
The scheme will pay eligible households £200 in cash to put towards their heating bills.
It’s anticipated that the scheme will open for eligible households to apply in December.
Who’s eligible for the £200 payment?
The Winter Fuel Support Scheme is open to households in Wales where at least one member is a recipient of the following working age means-tested benefits:
- Employment and support allowance (ESA)
- Income-based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA)
- Income support
- Universal Credit
- Working tax credits
Those that apply must also be the ones who pay the energy bills for the property.
The payment will be available to all eligible households regardless of whether they pay for their on-grid fuel on a pre-payment meter, by direct debit or by paying a bill quarterly.
How and when can I apply for the scheme?
If you’re eligible for the scheme you’ll receive a letter in the year which will ask for your basic information to support your claim along with details to enable the payment.
Alternatively, individuals who believe they may qualify for this support can submit a claim through the Welsh Government website once applications open.
Applications for the team are anticipated to open in December 2022 and you’ll need your national insurance number to do apply.
All applications will need to be received by the closing date – which’ll be announced later on this year and you should expect to receive payment thereafter.
How will I receive the money?
You’ll receive the £200 payment in cash form.
Your local authority will wire the money across to your bank account with the details you provided upon application.
Make sure you provide the correct bank details when you apply.
What other energy bill help can I get?
Energy suppliers are also offering cash grants to those hardest hit by bill rises.
For instance British Gas is giving out up to £750 through its hardship fund.
But the amount can vary according to your supplier and your circumstances.
Ask your supplier what’s on offer and how to apply, or check here:
- Bulb energy fund
- EDF’s energy customer support fund
- E.on’s energy fund
- Npower’s energy fund
- Ovo’s debt and energy assistance
- Scottish Power’s hardship fund
Cold weather payments up £25 a day are also on offer when temperatures plummet below zero for households on low incomes.
The payment is made automatically, including to those on Universal Credit, for each seven day period of low temperatures between November 1 and March 31.
Anyone getting the state pension should also get winter fuel payments worth £100s. Winter fuel payments are a tax-free payment that comes from the government each year and is worth between £100 and £300.
Cost of living payments: what you need to know
- All the key dates for cost of living payments revealed
- Every household will get a £400 cost of living payment to help with energy bills
- See the full list of benefits eligible for £650 cost of living cash
- Here’s free cash you can get if you DON’T qualify for the £650 cost of living payment
- Millions of pensioners will get a £300 cost of living payment this winter
- Disabled Brits will get £150 this September
- Parents can get up to £200 towards school uniform costs
