Jasmine Birtles answers your pensions questions in the pensions and retirement Q&A – exclusively for GB News members.
Question:I am on a low income but don’t qualify for Pension Credit. I’m worried how I’ll cope this winter without the Winter Fuel Payment. What support is there for pensioners who can’t pay their energy bills?
Jasmine replies: This is a problem that a lot of retired people are facing. They are on a low income but it’s not low enough to enable them to qualify for Pension Credit and, therefore, for Winter Fuel Payments.
Coming as it does at the same time as Ofgem have allowed power companies to increase prices by 10 per cent, this is a heavy blow for many poorer pensioners.
On my website, MoneyMagpie.com, we have a lot of information for pensioners needing to find ways to increase their income. I spoke to MoneyMagpie’s editor, Vicky Parry, to see what support is available to people in your situation. This is what she told me:
“Whilst most of the support available does tend to be for those eligible for pension credits and on the poverty line, there is support available from most energy providers, should you fall in arrears, and there are grants in place to help you pay off the amount.
Jasmine Birtles is GBN Membership’s money expert. Have you got a question you’d like her to answer? Email [email protected].
“These tend to be available from your energy provider and detailed on their sites.
“Also look at Charis Grantsand see if they can help.
“There’s also more specific customer help from: EDF Energy Customer Support Fund / E.on Energy Fund / E.on Next Energy Fund / Ovo Energy Fund/ Octo Assist Fund / Scottish Power Hardship Fund.
“You may need to get help applying to these schemes as they can be fairly complicated procedures. Most require you to have spoken to a debt advisor and worked out your income and expenditure in detail, ready to present your case. You can get help from some charities to do this.
“Another option would be to get yourself put on a fixed payment plan so that you can budget accordingly and not have an surprise big bills. As well as a payment plan review, you may, in certain circumstances, be able to arrange reduced payments or a payment holiday.
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“If you prepay your energy bills, similarly your supplier can help, including £5 of emergency credit on both your gas and electricity meter, accessible by entering the card or clicking a button when the option pops up – this will have to be repaid when you top up.”
As Vicky says, it’s helpful to get some assistance in filling in these forms.
For example, you could contact Citizen’s Advice, National Debtline, Christians Against Poverty, StapChange or Community Money Advice as they are all very used to helping people on low incomes navigate the red tape of government departments and grant making bodies.
Speaking of grant making bodies, it’s worth looking at the Turn2Us.org.uk website as not only do they have a benefits calculator that can show you if there are any benefits you’re entitled to that you’re not currently getting, but they also have access to grants and you might qualify for one. It’s free money so it’s worth a go!
