Fuel direct payment

elaina79

Is anyone here using the fuel direct payment scheme. I already have my council tax and water paid by this but now i'm going to have my gas paid this way as well.
That is the maximum amount that can be taken for this. My council tax is just over £3 and water is £8ish. I already have my carers allowance taken off my income support, I wont have anything left soon.

concerned43

there is no maximum - it will be decided for you - hence why i have never gone down this road, why don't you get a pre-payment meter instead?

elaina79

They have told me they cannot put me on a prepayment meter due to the gas network or something. I thought only a certain amount of money can be taken from your benefits or has all that changed now.

richard9991

elaina79 wrote: »

Is anyone here using the fuel direct payment scheme. I already have my council tax and water paid by this but now i'm going to have my gas paid this way as well.
That is the maximum amount that can be taken for this. My council tax is just over £3 and water is £8ish. I already have my carers allowance taken off my income support, I wont have anything left soon.

the max is around £4 for arrears plus an amount for on going consumption i pay my electric this way and am now in credit so they just take £6 for future bills it works well for me as you automatically go on the cheapest tariff.

elaina79

richard9991 wrote: »

the max is around £4 for arrears plus an amount for on going consumption i pay my electric this way and am now in credit so they just take £6 for future bills it works well for me as you automatically go on the cheapest tariff.

Is there a maximum for the ongoing consumption then. They worked out I use £56 per month surely they won't take that will they on top of the £16 per month for arrears, thats £76 which is more than I'm getting:eek:

richard9991

elaina79 wrote: »

Is there a maximum for the ongoing consumption then. They worked out I use £56 per month surely they won't take that will they on top of the £16 per month for arrears, thats £76 which is more than I'm getting:eek:

no they wont they will work out how much you use over a year then divide by 52 which will give them an ammount for on going plus around £4 for the arrears but if you are going to be left with not enough to live on income support will not agree to it.

elaina79

I have just roughly worked it out and that is gonna come too £53ish. That will leave me with £19 per month or £4.75 per week.

karenx

Are you expecting to get fuel for nothing? Or pay like everyone else has to? If you are using too much you should look at cutting back, like not having lights on etc when your not in the room. Switching all plugs etc off that are not in use and when you leave the house. Use energy saving bulbs. Not have the heating on when not necessary, put a dressing gown on when in the house. All these little things all help to use less gas, electric etc etc!

nordtraveller

elaina79 wrote: »

I have just roughly worked it out and that is gonna come too £53ish. That will leave me with £19 per month or £4.75 per week.

Are you saying you will only be left with £19 per month to buy food etc once the direct payments are taken? :eek:

Income Support surely wont allow that

picassopete

can you not get HB to get help with your council tax?

richard9991

elaina79 wrote: »

I have just roughly worked it out and that is gonna come too £53ish. That will leave me with £19 per month or £4.75 per week.

income support will not agree with that amount if you have no other income they wont put you on fuel direct