Find sources of help and ways you can reduce the amount you spend on heating during the cold winter months if you are elderly, disabled or on a low income.

Home Heat Helpline

Home Heat Helpline is a free national service run by gas and electricity suppliers to help customers who are considered to be vulnerable.

Who can get help

• people who are of pension age 
• people who have young children and are on a low income
• people who are are disabled or have a long-term health condition.

What the Home Heat Helpline can do

• help you to identify ways to save energy 
• explain how to get more affordable prices for gas and electricity 
• help you to apply for grants for free home insulation 
• put you on the Priority Service Register for customers with disabilities and special needs 
• help you to agree a flexible payment option if you have fallen behind on your bills 
• help you get all the benefits you’re entitled to claim
• Help you avoid being disconnected, even if you are unable to pay your bill.

The Home Heat Helpline website provides lots of useful information. You can use their online enquiry form to ask them to call you back. Their website provides lots of useful information, or you can download their Little book of energy for advice and tips on reducing your heating costs. 

Winter fuel payments

If you are aged 60 or over, you are entitled to an annual winter fuel payment to help with the costs of keeping warm during winter. This is tax-free and is normally paid from November every year.

If you are getting the state retirement pension or any welfare benefits, you should be sent these payments automatically. If you are not getting any benefits, or you are only receiving housing benefit, council tax benefit or child benefit, you will have to claim your first winter fuel payment – after that, they should come automatically.

Use the Directgov website to find out more about the winter fuel payment and what to do if you haven't received one. Or call the winter fuel payment helpline on 0845 915 1515

Cold weather payments

You may be entitled to a cold weather payment from the social fund.

Who can claim cold weather payments:

• people in receiving income support
• people receiving income-based jobseeker's allowance
• people receiving employment support allowance 
• people receiving pension credit

These payments are made if the weather becomes exceptionally cold (0°C or below) for seven consecutive days or more.

Payments should be made automatically with your benefits and will not affect other benefits you may be getting. Find out more about who qualifies from Directgov.

Problems paying for gas and electricity?

Find out about your options if you are behind with your gas or electricity bills, including options for:

• getting the best deal from your current gas or electricity supplier
• switching suppliers
• sources of financial help.

Find out more on our page on fuel debt.

Energy efficiency

See our page on energy efficiency to find out how to reduce your bills and what help is available with funding improvements.
If you are elderly, disabled or on a low income, you may be able to get some help to pay your bills.