Heating your home

The Winter Fuel Payment or Winter Fuel Allowance is an annual payment to help with heating costs & made to households with someone born on or before the 5th August 1953. It should be paid automatically through your State Pension or another social security benefit (not Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit or Universal Credit).

Gov.uk - Winter fuel payment

Cold Weather Payment is made if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below for 7 consecutive days. You’ll get a payment of £25 for each 7-day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March. You could get Cold Weather Payments if you’re getting:

• Pension Credit
• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Universal Credit

Gov.uk - Cold weather payment

Warm Homes Discount is provided by larger energy suppliers to support people who are in or at risk from being in fuel poverty. Some of the smaller utility suppliers also voluntarily participate in the scheme. Through the scheme you could get a £140 one off payment directly applied to your electricity bill. This is in addition to the Winter Fuel & Cold Weather payments.

Gov.uk  - Warm homes discount scheme

Priority Service Register is a free service provided by utility suppliers and network operator. You can receive the assistance if you:

• are of pensionable age
• are disabled or chronically sick
• have a long-term medical condition
• have children living with you under the age of 5
• have a hearing or visual impairment or additional communication needs
• are in a vulnerable situation.

Support varies by both supplier and by an individual’s circumstances, some of the services on offer include:

• Large-format or Braille bills
• Advanced notice of service interruption
• Priority in a power cut
• Quarterly meter readings
• Yearly gas safety checks
• Meter relocation for better access

To sign up for the Priority Services Register you will need to contact all your utility suppliers directly. Their contact details can be found either on their websites or on the bills that you are sent.

Welsh Government Warm Homes, which includes the Nest scheme, looks to support people in Wales living on a lower income who receive a means tested benefit or live with a respiratory, circulatory or mental health condition.

Nest offers a range of free, impartial advice and, if you are eligible, a package of free home energy efficiency improvements such as a new boiler, central heating or insulation. This can lower your energy bills and benefit your health and wellbeing.

If you would like to know more about the Nest scheme and to see if you qualify, call Freephone 0808 808 2244 or visit nest.gov.wales.

NEST WALES WEBSITE