Helping you stay warm and well

Here to Help written on blue backgroundWith rising energy costs, we know that some residents may be finding it hard to keep on top of their bills. We want you to know that support is available to help keep you warm and well this winter. 

Energy Price Guarantee

The Government’s Energy Price Guarantee will ensure that a typical UK household will pay an average of £2,500 per year for their energy bills until April 2023.

The Guarantee is not a cap on your total annual bill, but a limit on the amount you can be charged by your supplier for each unit of energy you use. So, you will pay more or less than the average if you use more or less power. 

Find out more about the energy Price Guarantee on gov.uk (external link).

Energy Bills Support Scheme

The Energy Bills Support Scheme provides a £400 non-repayable discount to eligible households to help with their energy bills over winter. 

The discount will be applied automatically when your bill is calculated if you are on a standard gas or electricity contract. For most households, a £66 credit will be applied to your monthly bill for 6 months between October 2022 and March 2023. 

If you are on a pre-payment meter, you will be issued with Energy Bill discount vouchers each month, via SMS text, email, or by post. You will need to redeem these at your usual top-up point, such as a PayPoint or the Post Office. You should never be asked for your bank details at any point and are entitled to receive the full £66 per month - no commission or charges should be deducted.

All eligible households will still get a £400 discount on their bills in addition to benefiting from the Energy Price Guarantee. 

Find out more about the Energy Bills Support Scheme on gov.uk (external link)

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Support services

General advice

If you have a query that is not answered below, or just want more information about any of the services available please contact our Affordable Warmth Team.

Phone
020 8489 3489 

Email
affordable.warmth@haringey.gov.uk

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SHINE London

We have partnered with SHINE London to provide a one-stop referral service for residents who are struggling to pay their energy bills. They can assess residents for a range of services to improve health, finances, and energy efficiency. 

Phone
0300 555 0195

Email
contact@shine-london.org.uk

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Haringey Citizens Advice Bureau

Haringey Citizens Advice Bureau can offer advice on benefits, heating, grants and debt. They will conduct a gateway assessment on the phone and may offer a pre-booked appointment. 

Phone
0808 278 7966 (Monday-Friday, 9am to 5pm)

Website
Citizens Advice Haringey (external link)

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Financial help

Winter Fuel Payment

If you were born before 26 September 1955, you should receive a Winter Fuel Payment of between £100 and £300 depending on your circumstances. These payments are usually paid automatically with your State Pension or other benefits during November and December but if you don't receive them you can apply. 

Phone
0345 915 1515

Textphone
0345 606 0285 

Website
Winter Fuel Payment - GOV.UK (external link)

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Warm Home Discount

The Warm Home Discount provides a one-off discount on your electricity bills if you are at risk of fuel poverty. Find out if you’re eligible and which energy suppliers offer the Warm Home Discount.

The Warm Home Discount for the 2022-2023 winter season is set at £150, The scheme opens in November 2022.

The discount is not given directly to you. Your energy bill is automatically reduced between October and March. The government tells suppliers which customers to apply the discount to. You can ask for your supplier to apply the discount to your gas bill, if you pay for both fuels with them.

You can also get the Warm Home Discount if you're on a prepayment or pay-as-you-go meter. Your supplier will decide how the discount is applied. You may get a voucher you can use to top up your meter.

Am I eligible for the Warm Home Discount scheme?

Core Group 1:

  • You are automatically eligible for the Warm Home Discount if on 21 August 2022 you were in receipt of the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, with or without the Savings Credit. This group was formerly referred to as the 'core group' of those eligible.
  • You have to check that your supplier participates in the scheme. Small suppliers may not offer it. You must also check that your name, or your partner’s name appear on the electricity bill.

Core Group 2:

  • Some suppliers also offer the discount to a ‘broader group’ of customers, such as low-income households, especially those with young children. 
  • Each supplier has its own eligibility criteria and a limit on how many discounts it will pay out. The standard requirements are:
    • you are on a low income
    • you receive at least one of the following means-tested benefits: Income Support; Income-based Jobseekers Allowance; Income-related Employment & Support Allowance; Housing Benefit; Universal Credit; Child Tax Credit; Working Tax Credits; Pension Credit Savings Credit (PCSC).
  • Your home must meet also new ‘high energy cost’ rules. Your home's floor area, property age and property type are used by the government to identify households that are likely to have high energy costs.

How can I claim the Warm Home Discount?

Core Group 1 and 2

  • There is no need to apply for the Warm Home Discount - your supplier will automatically apply the discount to your bill if you are eligible.
  • To find out whether you qualify, you can call the government Warm Home Discount phone line on 0800 731 0214 between 14 November 2022 and 31 March 2023.

Which energy suppliers offer the Warm Home Discount?

Any supplier with more than 150,000 customers has to offer the Warm Home Discount scheme to the core eligible group. Some smaller suppliers offer the Warm Home Discount to their customers voluntarily.

Please note that some providers require re-application for the Warm Home Discount if you switch energy supplier.

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Cold Weather Payment

Residents in receipt of certain benefits could get a £25 payment to cover extra heating costs if the temperature drops below freezing seven days in a row.

After each period of very cold weather in your area, you should get a payment within 14 working days into the same bank account as your benefit payments. 

For more information, please visit the Cold Weather Payment page on the GOV.UK website (external link).

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Mayor of London - Warmer Homes programme

The Mayor of London’s Warmer Homes programme provides free heating, insulation and ventilation improvements if you own their own homes or rent privately.

If you live in the coldest and least efficient properties, you may be eligible for up to £25,000 of grant funding to cover the installation of efficiency measures, such as low carbon heating systems, insulation, and heat pumps.

You may be eligible if:

  • You have a combined total annual household income of less than £30,000 per year OR a total household income of less than £20,000 per year after tax, National Insurance, mortgage or rent costs and council tax.
  • you receive benefits
  • you own or rent your home
  • your property has a low Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of band D, E, F or G. If your property has never had an EPC survey, then this can be done through the scheme

The amount of funding available is dependent on the tenure, existing energy efficiency rating and current fuel type, of your home. Fuel types may be gas, electricity, oil, or LPG

Private landlords may apply for a grant on behalf of tenants who meet the eligibility criteria. Landlords with properties heated by electricity may be eligible for funding up to £13,333 to cover two-thirds of energy efficiency work. This means you can get up to £20,000 worth of measures installed for a maximum contribution of £6,667. Private rental properties heated with gas from the grid are eligible for funding of up to £5,000. 

There are several options available if you qualify for the programme including:

  • heat pumps
  • insulation for walls, lofts, and floors
  • heating system improvements or repairs
  • draughtproofing
  • solar energy installations

You need to provide information showing you are (or your tenant is) eligible, and details about the property. If the application is successful, a survey will be needed to work out which improvements are most suitable.

All surveys and installations are managed by RetrofitWorks. They provide a dedicated contact who helps explain what improvements are most suitable and ensures that work is carried out to a high standard. All work undertaken will be in accordance with current Government Retrofit standards (PAS 2035.2019) and will be carried out by Trustmark-registered installers for your peace of mind.

The scheme is currently open with funds being distributed on a first-come-first-served basis.

Find out more about the Warmer Homes scheme (external link) and How to apply

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Haringey Support Fund

This is a scheme to support residents who are facing unexpected costs and require emergency help, including gas and electricity reconnection.

See our Haringey Support Fund page for more information.

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Other available support

Loft Insulation

If the insulation in your loft is not 300mm (12 inches) thick you could be losing a large amount of heat through the roof of your property. Some energy suppliers offer free insulation to eligible households.

If you think your loft does need insulating, please contact SHINE London.

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London Power

The Greater London Authority’s energy company offers one of the cheapest pre-pay tariffs and doesn’t roll over residents to expensive variable tariffs.

Website
London Power (external link)

Email
hello@mylondonpower.com

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Priority Services Register (PSR)

This is a free service provided by suppliers to customers who may need some extra support. Contact your supplier to find out more information and to register.

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See also

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Page last updated:

October 25, 2022

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