Health & Comfort > Keeping warm > Saving money

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Warm Front Scheme (WFS)
Local Council help
Avoid scary fuel bills
Budget Scheme

You may be able to get a grant to help with costs associated with insulation and heating:

Warm Front Scheme (WFS)

Call Freephone 0800 952 0600 for information and to find out whether you're likely to be eligible. The amounts are:

£2,700 or up to £4,000 if your home needs oil-fired central heating

The scheme is operated on a local basis. Your local organisers will help you apply and to find people who can do the work for you.

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From your local council

If your income is low, the local authority may be able to give you a grant for:

• improving your home, including insulation
• if you or a member of your household is disabled, to fit your home with equipment to make life easier
• getting small repair jobs done

You need to contact your local authority to find out how to apply.

Organisations such as Age Concern or Mencap may be able to help with the paperwork.

If you apply for a grant, don’t start any work before the application is approved.

The council may send someone to inspect the premises - get their ID before you let them in.

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Avoid the scary fuel bills...

• Don't set the thermostat that controls your heating higher than 20°C (68°F). Thermostats are often in silly places, like the entrance hall, so keep an eye on the actual temperature in your living room (keep a thermometer in there). You may find that the temperature there is well over 20°C as the boiler is trying to heat your draughty hall up to the required temperature... Experiment with reducing the temperature on the thermostat until you find the right balance, to keep the room you are actually using warm enough.

• Set your heating system to come on before you get up in the morning, and go off when you go to bed.

• Only turn on the radiator to warm your bedroom before you go to bed - an hour or so should do, depending on the weather outside. Warm your bed as well, with a hot water bottle or an electric blanket.

• Keep your bedroom window closed at night - keeping the bedroom door open will give you sufficient ventilation.

• If you have an open coal fire keep it well filled up – about 3 to 4 inches (70-100mm), and use the air control to make it burn higher or lower.

• Have your chimney swept once a year, so that it burns efficently and safely. For more tips, you can call the Solid Fuel Association for free on 0800 600 000.

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Budget Schemes

The electricity and gas companies have payment schemes which enable people to spread payments more evenly over the year instead of having them peak in winter. Ask your supplier for details.

If you run into problems with paying your gas or electricity bills, let the supplier know quickly before the amount builds up. They’ll want to help find a solution, perhaps by spreading out repayments. They won’t disconnect all-pensioner households in the winter.

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