Am I entitled to any help to stay warm?

daveandjadea

Thanks for the replies...

As someone else has said as it's a council flat, with concrete walls too, so there's nothing available in terms of wall and roof insulation. I have double glazed windows, but they're not draft-!!!!!!.

My friend works for NPower and says the Warm Home Scheme isn't running at the moment, even if it was no money until next year and only goes onto the electric - I pay via Fuel Direct so that would take off a small amount from my debt, but be no help in keeping me warm. Energy Fund and Further Assistance Payments are also not running at the moment (clears electricity/gas debt). I have my friend keeping an eye on when this re-starts again.

Thank you for all the comments but I should point out I am NOT looking for tips on how to stay warm...thick curtains for the French door and living-room windows, some PJ's and jumpers, a winter quilt, a winter coat, wellies or some shoes, wool blankets, electric blankets, window draft seal, carpets, some sort of flooring in bedrooms, draft excluder's...all of these would be really nice but when I say I can't afford any of that I mean it. I'm doing all I can to keep warm already, but what I need to know is what support may be available so that I can keep warm.

Dear post police...

I've been unemployed since 2nd Feburary 2008 - I'd consider that long-term, and this year I'm worse financially because it's been another year without a job, benefits have been stopped-started, debts are greater, and more items are wearing out so I've more to pay for. Yes, my ex boyfriend has also used this account.

It's currently 11°c in Newcastle - we've had wind, rain and hail - that isn't very cold, but I am feeling the cold regardless and it's only going to get worse as the weather turns colder.

My feeling cold isn't due to any sort of medical problem, I'm not the only one cold in these flats. Full heating and fire does nothing in these flats without some serious draft-proofing...as soon as you turn heating or fire off it gets cold again, fast.

Pollycat

daveandjadea wrote: »

Dear post police...

I've been unemployed since 2nd Feburary 2008 - I'd consider that long-term, and this year I'm worse financially because it's been another year without a job, benefits have been stopped-started, debts are greater, and more items are wearing out so I've more to pay for. Yes, my ex boyfriend has also used this account.

I assume you're referring to me when you say 'Dear Post Police'......

Ok, you have been unemployed since 2nd february 2008 - I would consider that long term unemployed too.

It didn't make sense to me at the time I posted because the posts under your username were contradictory.
The same person can't have been unemployed for 4 years and yet be in employment 3 months ago.

It's clear now that both of you (your (ex?) boyfriend referring to you as his unemployed girlfriend the post about moving in together and maybe having a baby) and you as the writer of the latest posts are/were using the same account.

Sorry the tips you were given to help keep warm weren't an option for you.

Ellejmorgan

Whatever you do, you need to act now today, next week is going to be exceedingly cold, snow and cold air from Arctic, I'm not kidding either wish I was..

Ellejmorgan

Murphymycat wrote: »

I found this while mooching about the Which website.

It is about the £130 grant, and contains lots of useful info about this and who is eligible. I hadn't realised that there is a 'core' group of people who must receive it from all energy companies which is those on guarantee Pension Credit, plus other 'vulnerable' people. Each energy company has their own definition of what constitutes 'vulnerable' and there is a link to a chart on this site.

I just remember that last year we pestered our energy company Eon to let us have the vouchers early which they did.

http://www.which.co.uk/energy/creating-an-energy-saving-home/guides/energy-grants/warm-home-discount/

Thank you so much you are an absolute angel, didn't know about this, called them and i'm eligible, also been added to priority register in case of leaks/problems

You just saved me a fortune when money is quite tight, thanks again you are wonderful :A

valk_scot

daveandjadea wrote: »

Thank you for all the comments but I should point out I am NOT looking for tips on how to stay warm...thick curtains for the French door and living-room windows, some PJ's and jumpers, a winter quilt, a winter coat, wellies or some shoes, wool blankets, electric blankets, window draft seal, carpets, some sort of flooring in bedrooms, draft excluder's...all of these would be really nice but when I say I can't afford any of that I mean it. I'm doing all I can to keep warm already, but what I need to know is what support may be available so that I can keep warm.

There's no point in claiming extra money for heating costs if the heat is still going to end up peeing out the windows and doors though. Total waste of money. You do presumaby spend quite a lot on heating costs already but if you divert say £30 of this now to make some basic improvements you could save far more than this over the winter. It's very short sighted to just throw money at the heating bills. You can do a lot with second hand materials like newspaper, scrap cardboard, charity shop curtains and carpet offcuts...ask on your local Frecycle for things if you really don't have a penny.

Same with clothes, if someone on my local Freecycle asked politely for a warm coat I'm certain you would get offers. Also in many big cities there are clothing banks where people who can't afford warm clothing can go and ask for help, there are at least two I know of in Edinburgh (I live outside Edinburgh) and also my local council runs a recycling project for furniture, white goods and other household goods like curtains and carpets. Nothing like that where you live? I'd be surprised if there wasn't tbh.

It's 12'C here atm btw and I've got the windows open and am sitting here in a long sleeved t-shirt, joggers and bare feet. It's not balmy warm, no, but it's not cold!

letthemeatcake

Just claimed my £130 from British Gas as help towards my electricity bill. I'm certainly not going to complain about it being for electricity and not gas or being paid in March 2013 as every penny counts. In any case I qualified last year and BG told me I could transfer it to my gas bill if I wanted, which I planned to do, but instead I received a £120 cheque as my electricity bill was £120 in credit, which I put in my bank to pay towards my winter gas bill. It all works out in the end.

It will help you OP so if you qualify claim it as soon as you can.

:j

SkyeKnight

Lidl have a special offer on rubber seal for windows on Thursday:
http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/lidl_uk/hs.xsl/index_34947.htm
£1.99 for 2 rolls which I've used before - this makes an enormous difference to the heat in the house and a lot cheaper than in the DIY store.