Am I entitled to any help to stay warm?

Ellejmorgan

I've had mine on for the past two weeks, the again I have a large property which is really draughty I also have laminate..

The rooms at the front of the house get cold, and at the back they get roasting due to the boiler upstairs..
I have to keep the baby's room warm as at the front.

Perhaps looking around your place and seeing if extra curtains will help or graught excluders at the doors..

I can't get cold due to nerve damage in legs/arms & spine, if I do it's excrutiating and I wouldn't be able to move..
So I do understand how you feel..

Has our wise leader culled the extra £25 payment for when the weather drops below 0 for 7 days ??

wants.to.be.debt.free

Hello, Just ring up your service provider for gas/elec and they will ask you a few questions and will give you a decision as to whether you will get the £130 in march (They told me it was increasing this year from £120 to £130)

Wishing you lots of luck

gingergee

My heart really goes out to you op. Im ashamed as i have about 3 winter coats i no longer use! Maybe they do a scheme near you where people donate old coats and they get distributed to those who need them/cant afford one? I know some places do, just don't know where! Maybe someone else knows or knows how to start one? Think i will suggest this at college next week as it cant be a localized problem, won't help OP i know, but if i can sort one where i am, it may spread! Hope something is sorted for you x G x

spikeripley

daveandjadea wrote: »

I'm currently in receipt of ESA, housing benefit and tax benefit.

It's only September and even with heating and fire full blast I'm still cold...god knows what it's going to be like in winter, I certainly can't afford to keep heating and fire on all the time. I also can't afford winter clothing, a winter coat or shoes that don't have holes in the bottom...at least not without some major saving.

I live in a council flat with no insulation, the outside walls of my flat are cold to the touch, and although I have double glazing there are gaps in the window that left the draft in so it's always cold in here. I can't afford draft-proofing...right now all I can really do is try to tape-up the gaps around the windows to limit the draft.

Short of getting yet another budgeting loan to try to buy warmer clothes and basic draft-proofing...is there anything else I can do to get a little help with heating or draft-proofing?

Get onto the council tell them you are a vulnerable tenant and need the repairs doing asap. If they wont help get on to the MP for your area and explain your situation, make them fully aware of how the cold affects you. I found once they know you are vulnerable they respond quicker re repairs etc. Good luck

Murphymycat

My HM had a letter last week from DWP saying he is entitled to the £130 payment as he is on an applicable benefit, in this case Pension Credit. It is payable before the end of December, not March.

Last year it was paid in November. As the house has a prepayment meter he got vouchers for electricity for £120.

Hope this helps

sharjay99

Murphymycat wrote: »

My HM had a letter last week from DWP saying he is entitled to the £130 payment as he is on an applicable benefit, in this case Pension Credit. It is payable before the end of December, not March.

Last year it was paid in November. As the house has a prepayment meter he got vouchers for electricity for £120.

Hope this helps

Eon managed to get my voucher to me in about march this year, so much for helping keep warm over the winter. If you've already had it for last year does it automatically happen this year too or would you have to reapply?

sniggings

sharjay99 wrote: »

Eon managed to get my voucher to me in about march this year, so much for helping keep warm over the winter. If you've already had it for last year does it automatically happen this year too or would you have to reapply?

the government site on this says those that get pensions and are entitled, do not have to apply, they will get a letter saying they are either getting the allowance or asking them to ring to check a few details to see if they can get it.

Each energy company have different rules on this, mine luckly also pay it to those on ESA and JSA, you would need to ring though to claim.

P.S I think it's only for electric though.

seven-day-weekend

Try to get a winter coat from a jumble sale/charity shop. Put warm socks on and plenty of layers of other clothing. A thick fleecy dressing gown (charity shop/jumble sale) worn over the top of your other clothes will be really warm.

Only heat one room at a time, in fact live in one room if you can, that will save money.

Get some thick curtains from the charity shop as well, the bigger the better, they will also keep the warmth in.

I would also like to ask: why are you so cold, it's only September, is this related to your condition?

Dunroamin

From past posts, the OP seems to be autistic rather than suffering from a medical condition where she feels the cold more.

OP, did you put into effect any of the suggestions that were made when you asked the same question last year - did you find them helpful?

margaretclare

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Try to get a winter coat from a jumble sale/charity shop. Put warm socks on and plenty of layers of other clothing. A thick fleecy dressing gown (charity shop/jumble sale) worn over the top of your other clothes will be really warm.

Only heat one room at a time, in fact live in one room if you can, that will save money.

Get some thick curtains from the charity shop as well, the bigger the better, they will also keep the warmth in.

I would also like to ask: why are you so cold, it's only September, is this related to your condition?

I agree with all this excellent advice, but I think the problem is related to the insulation. If the walls feel cold on the inside it is likely that any heat you generate inside will be galloping out through those porous walls faster than a bath with the plug out. There have been various schemes set up for councils to do home improvements to their housing stock - see 'Better Homes' schemes.

Didn't you have any warm clothes before you became unemployed? Most clothes will last for years.

There may possibly be other benefits you could get relative to the reason why you feel the cold so much - a circulation problem? Try the Disability Information and Advice Line - DIAL - or CAB.