I can't heat my home

There might be local fuel grant schemes in your area. Contact a local advice organisation to see if they know about schemes to give money to help with energy bills.   

Your local council might have a scheme to help you save money on energy bills and keep warm and safe in cold weather.  

Energy companies know people are struggling this winter. 

Contact your energy company to see what help they can offer. 

Energy company schemes include help like:

• Grants to help people with energy debts;
• Grants to improve the energy efficiency of your home;
• Accepting reduced payments (though this will mean you get into debt).

Councils in the UK have been given money to help people this winter. 

Contact your local council to find out what schemes they’re running and what help you can get. 

Some schemes are giving grants of money. Others are giving away electric blankets and slow cookers. Others are giving income top-ups to the poorest households. 

When the temperature stays below 0 degrees celsius for more than 7 days, people on certain benefits will get an automatic payment of £25. 

You don’t need to do anything to claim this payment. 

The benefits that qualify for Cold Weather Payments are: 

• Pension Credit 
• Income Support 
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance 
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance 
• Universal Credit 
• Support for Mortgage Interest 

In most cases, you also need to have a young child or a disabled person living in the household. Read our guide on Cold Weather Payments to see the full rules.

Scotland

You can't get Cold Weather Payments if you live in Scotland. They have been replaced by Winter Heating Payment.

If your health is being affected by the cold, talk to your GP surgery. Lots of GP surgeries have community prescribers who may be able to help you access support to keep warm.