HEATING OIL

de5tinyxx

Hi guys

HEATING OIL ASSISTANCE

I’ve been waiting for the new government “Crisis & Resilience Fund” to go live on my local council which has replaced “LWAS” and it’s exactly the same!
I’m a 55 yr old living alone with health issues and receive pip and uc. I’m a tenant and the energy fuel is by way of heating oil. I live in rural Suffolk. What usually costs me £280 for 500 litres of oil thru my local oil club would currently cost me approx £620. I simply can’t afford that. But I don’t qualify for help from the council as my savings are over £1500. My savings aren’t much more than this and it’s my contingency fund for any unexpected emergency outlays. I’m nearly at the bottom of my oil tank and I’ve not been able to have heating on for past few weeks (which is necessary for me as I have a progressive muscle condition which is made much worse by the cold) and I’ve been washing in cold water. I’m desperate for help. I qualify for the low income threshold - it’s these savings which is the issue. Am I expected to pay from my relatively small savings more than twice what I would usually pay for oil? Leaving me with not much to cover any future hike in bills/emergencies?

I am under Suffolk County Council

Keep_pedalling

isn’t this situation the unexpected emergency you have been saving for?

born_again

As stated

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/over-50-million-to-help-families-struggling-with-soaring-heating-oil-costs

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:  

Heating oil prices have spiked sharply, and I know that for families in rural communities that is a real and urgent problem.  

That’s why we’re putting over £50 million of support to help the people who need it most, including funding for the Northern Ireland Executive to deliver support in Northern Ireland where this issue hits hardest.  

You will notice that there are not any time scales.

Also seem to remember a statement that mentioned people use less over summer. Which is a hint that they will do nothing for now & just wait & see how it goes till later in the year.

fatbelly

Every council has its own scheme. Most benefits do discount small savings. For example, the Cornwall (similar area, lots of properties not on gas grid) scheme links to Council Tax Support which exempts the first £6000 of savings. If you think that your council scheme is unfair then you need to raise it with your councillor via

https://www.writetothem.com/

TricityMan

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6662485/heating-oil

If you live in NI you will get …wait….£100 card voucher.

p0lystring

I found some useful information about my council on OilCompare recently. You can view their article about various government and council heating oil schemes here:

https://oilcompare.co.uk/articles/council-help-heating-oil-costs