The Winter Fuel scheme ends next Monday, 28 February. 48% of potential eligible Ceredigion households are yet to make a claim.
So far, 2520 applicants have benefitted from claiming for the scheme, totalling £504,000 in payments made.
Eligible households are able to claim a one-off £200 payment to provide support towards paying their on-grid winter fuel bills for their primary residence in Wales.
Households are eligible if they are on certain benefits and receive mains gas or electricity to the premises. They do not necessarily need to be heating homes with electricity in order to benefit.
Households that heat their home with oil/LPG/coal but receive electricity to their home to power their fridge/TV/lights are eligible for the Winter Fuel support scheme.
Households that heat their homes through off-grid means - with oil, wood, coal or bottle gas, and are struggling financially can also apply for extra support from the Discretionary Assistance Fund. This fund has now been extended until the end of March 2023.
Ceredigion Council Anti-Poverty champion, Cllr Catrin Miles said: “It’s extremely welcoming news that in response to soaring fuel costs and the cost of living crisis, the DAF winter fuel support for off-grid clients has been extended throughout the summer months and next winter until the end of March 2023. I hope that this, together with the clarification that some Ceredigion households may be eligible for both the Winter Fuel Support Scheme and the Discretionary Assistance Fund, will help ease some financial struggles our residents are currently facing.”
In order to apply for £200 from the Winter Fuel Support Scheme, Ceredigion residents can click here Winter Fuel Support Scheme - Ceredigion County Council.
In order to apply to the Discretionary Assistance Fund for up to £250 for help with Oil or up to £70 for help with LP Gas costs, residents must contact a support worker, social worker, housing officer, Citizens Advice or other similar professional to make the application on their behalf.
The Discretionary Assistance Fund can also help households who have been impacted by recent storms to cover essential costs – the grant can help with food, gas and electricity costs for households in immediate need, for example, if a household has suffered power outages and are dealing with spoiled food (such as defrosted food). More information about this fund is available here Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF) | GOV.WALES
23/02/2022