The UK Government is providing cost of living support to every household – here are more ways to save money in your home
PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HM GOVERNMENT
WE are all feeling the pinch now with the rises in the cost of living. But there is help available from the Government for every household in the UK, especially for those who are finding paying their energy bills a challenge.
There are more than 40 schemes available to help support everyone in the UK with the cost of living, depending on your circumstances and income and, for many, the help with energy bills has made a huge difference over the long winter months. Take a look at the list below – you may be surprised to find out what help you could be claiming right now.
• The Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) automatically limits the amount you can be charged per unit of gas or electricity. This guarantee is in place until the end of June, so your bills will be protected from Ofgem’s updated price cap.
• This year, people on means-tested benefits will automatically receive £900 in cost-of-living payments, split into three payments across the next 12 months.
• Automatic payments worth £150 for eligible disabled people will be paid in the summer.
• £150 will go to pensioners who usually receive winter fuel payments in November.
• If you have a traditional prepayment meter, you should have received vouchers to help with your energy bills. These need to be redeemed by June 30, 2023, either at a Post Office or PayPoint shop, which will be clearly indicated on each voucher.
• By the end of June, a typical household will have saved £1,500 thanks to the Energy Price Guarantee and the energy bills support scheme.
• If you’re struggling to pay your energy bill, you can get information on what help is available from Citizens Advice, or ask your energy supplier for support – you may be able to get a grant to help you pay.
• As well as support for energy bills, there are more than 40 schemes available to help you with the cost of living. You can find out what you might be eligible for at gov.uk/helpforhouseholds.
For mum-of-four Ellie Jackson from Conwall, the Government’s help with energy bills has been a gamechanger, making the difference between keeping the family on track and going into the red. She was eligible for the automatic and non-repayable £400 off energy costs in Great Britain this winter, which was deducted directly from bills.
She says: “The help from the Government was vital. We made loads of energy-saving efforts, but in spite of this, we still needed that support so as not to go into debt. It took away some of the financial stress.”
Ellie’s family have also kept a close eye on their energy usage to keep bills down.
“I remind the children that by using less energy, we’re helping animals, like the polar bears,” says Ellie. “It gives them a reason to do it and we all get on board!”
As well as keeping tabs on the thermostat and insulating their home, Ellie, 43, and her firefighter husband Ian, 44, have put plenty of money-saving rules in place. Of course, as we head into summer and use our heating less, most savings are made in using less water and electricity.
“Once you’re aware of how easy it is to change one thing, you start thinking, ‘Oh, let’s do the next one,’” Ellie says.
SMART WAYS TO SAVE
Try these nifty tricks to knock pounds off your bills
IF YOU’RE looking for easy ways of cutting down the amount of electricity, gas and water you use and generating some welcome extra cash, give some of these simple ideas a go.
You can try them all yourself, without the need to call in the experts, and the more you do, the bigger the difference you’ll see in your energy bills.
INSTALL AN ENERGY-EFFICIENT SHOWER HEAD
These clever gadgets reduce the amount of water used in non-electric showers. You could save £45 on your water bill, and some water companies even provide them free. For electric showers, turn on “eco mode” if available. And If your water is metered, spending just four minutes in the shower can offer sweet-smelling savings on water and energy of up to £90 a year.
WASH CLOTHES AT A LOWER TEMP
Modern washing machines can get your clothes clean without whacking up the heat. Try switching from 40 degrees down to 30 degrees save up to £40 a year.
TURN APPLIANCES OFF AT THE SOCKET
Almost all electrical appliances, including computers, televisions, and video game consoles, draw power continuously unless they’re unplugged, so this super-quick fix could save you up to £70 a year.
SLASH YOUR TUMBLE DRYER USE.
Although handy, your tumble dryer is a notorious energy-eater. When you can, dry clothes outside or on an airer placed near an open window instead.
REDUCE YOUR COMBI BOILER FLOW TEMPERATURE
This refers to the temperature of the water your boiler sends to your radiator. Reducing it to 60 degrees (or 65 degrees if you’re over 65) won’t noticeably reduce the warmth of your home – but it could save you up to £100 a year.
TRACK YOUR ENERGY USAGE ON AN APP
If you have a smart meter (which is a great way of seeing what you’re spending), you can track your energy usage using an app. Seeing how effective your energy-saving tricks are is a great motivator, too.
“We dry our washing in a patch of sun on a rail indoors rather than using a tumble dryer, and we don’t wash our clothes if they’ve only been worn for a few hours.
“We have a four-minute timer on the shower, given to us by our water company, and we’ve learned to cook more efficiently.
“We make snacks for the week, like cheese straws and cupcakes, at the same time as our Sunday roast. We’ve also got LED lights fitted, and we turn off appliances at the plug when they’re not being used.”
All this is having an impact on how much the family spends on energy each month.
“We’ve saved around £90 a month on our bills,” Ellie says. “We usually go camping or caravanning for our summer holiday and look out for any free activities.
“The money we’ve saved means we can splash out on a trip to a theme park. It will be something nice to look forward to.”
HOW DO I GET HELP IF…
... I use a prepayment meter with a top-up token or card?
All households should have received a £400 discount on their energy bills spread out between October last year and March this year. But one in seven households have a traditional prepayment meter, and if you are one of them you should have received vouchers to claim your discount on your energy costs.
These are redeemed at either a Post Office or PayPoint shop, which will be clearly indicated on each voucher. The vouchers expire after 90 days and so far about 20 per cent of people with vouchers have still not used them. If your voucher does expire, you can ask for it be reissued – but all vouchers must be redeemed by June 30, 2023.
... I have alternative fuel?
If you heat your home with an alternative fuel, such as liquid petroleum gas (LPG), oil or solid fuel, and use this for most of your heating, you should have had a £200 Alternative Fuels Payment (AFP). If it hasn’t arrived, apply online for £200 support to help pay for alternative fuels. The application portal closes on May31, 2023.
... I don’t have a domestic electricity supply?
If you don’t have a domestic electricity supply – for example, if you live in a residential park home, boat, permanent Gypsy and Traveller site, in accommodation that has a communal energy supply, in an off-grid home, care home or assisted living facility, and you are partially or wholly self-funded, or in a domestic home that’s part of a non-domestic property – a separate flat above a shop, for instance – you will need to apply for a £400 lump sum. To check your eligibility, go to gov.uk and search “Energy bills alternative fund”. But make sure you do it before May 31, 2023, when applications close.