Financial Assistance With Winter Fuel Bills

View our 'Tips to Save Energy in Your Home' flyer to view our top five tips.

Here are some simple tips which may help reduce your winter fuel bills whilst remaining warm and well:

Don’t overheat your home. As long as the rooms are at the recommended temperature (18°C for your main living room), you can turn down your thermostat. By turning down your thermostat by just 1° can save you around £60 a year
Close your curtains and internal doors at dusk – this can save you around £15-20 a year
Turn off your lights when not in a room
Don’t leave electrical appliances on standby, switch items like your TV off at the wall
Use your washing/drying devices at full capacity
Only boil as much water as you need in your kettle
Only heat the parts of your home you need and get your boiler to work for you by setting the thermostat
Fit low energy light bulbs and LEDs to save around £55 per bulb per lifetime.

Staying Warm in your home isn't all about your thermostat:

Visit a price comparison website to ensure you are getting the best deal from your energy provider
Layer up with lots of thin items of clothing rather than one bulky item. Also wearing slippers indoors is a good way to keep toasty!
Try to eat a balanced diet with warm meals and hot drinks
A bit of light exercise can get your blood flowing - a little housework such as vacuuming can get you moving and keep you warm
Keep wrapped up at night and if necessary use a hot water or electric blanket.

Cold Weather Payments

You may get a Cold Weather Payment if you are getting certain benefits.

You'll get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below for seven consecutive days.

You'll get £25 for each seven day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March.

Cold Weather Payments are different to Winter Fuel Payments.

Find out more on the gov.uk website.

https://www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment

Household Support Fund

The household support fund (HSF) offers help to Derbyshire residents facing financial hardship by providing grants and other financial support. The fund is provided to Derbyshire County Council by the Department of Work and Pensions. Residents can apply to receive support from the Derbyshire Discretionary Fund by phone: 01629 533399.

Find out more on the Derbyshire County Council website:

Derbyshire County Council website

Derbyshire Unemployed Workers Centre

Address: 1 Rose Hill East, Chesterfield S40 1NU
Website: www.duwc.org.uk
Email: info@duwc.org.uk
Telephone: 01246 231441

The Derbyshire Unemployed Workers Centre can help with claiming benefits and challenging Department Of Work and Pension decisions. The Derbyshire Unemployed Workers Centre may have an outreach centre near you.

Please visit the website or contact the organisation for more details.