Ministry Matters

Keeping warm in winter is a major issue for many people and Britain’s energy companies have now earmarked £3.8 billion for measures to help the most vulnerable.

The independent Home Heat Helpline – 0800 33 66 99 – can deliver for these vulnerable groups:

• Advice on social tariffs – typically a 20 per cent saving
• Grants for free home insulation regardless of who owns the property and no means testing for the over 70s. Absolute right for them to receive free cavity wall and loft insulation or free top-ups to modern standards. Same help to all households in receipt of attendance allowance, disability living allowance or employment and support allowance (incapacity benefit) single parent allowance or households with young children with an annual income of less than £14,600.
• Access to the Priority Service Register, with free annual gas appliance safety checks, passwords for official gas and electricity-related callers. Third party, Braille, large print and talking billing
• Flexible payment options for customers in fuel debt
• A disconnection safety net, ensuring no vulnerable customer will be knowingly disconnected

The Home Heat Helpline also recognises that those most in need of help are often those least able to access it so the helpline now accepts third party applications including calls from clergy on behalf of parishioners, healthcare professionals on behalf of patients, volunteers on behalf of those they assist, even friends, relatives and neighbours. Lines are open 9am-8pm Mon-Fri and 10am-2pm on Saturdays. Calls are taken by trained expert advisers, not call centre operatives, and you can even arrange a call back or get more information at www.homeheathelpline.org.uk.

The Home Heat Helpline is a free service to help the over 70s, the disabled, the long-term sick, and families on low incomes with young children, who are worried about paying their energy bills and keeping warm.

Calls are answered by friendly, expert advisers who are trained to give quick and clear information on energy efficiency, grants for free home insulation, free annual gas appliance safety checks, free replacement boilers, and even reduced prices for gas and electricity.

You can call yourself, or ring on behalf of a friend, relative, patient or client or parishioner.

The Home Heat Helpline is open 9am-8pm Monday to Friday and 10am-2pm on Saturdays – and it won’t cost you a penny to ring. For more information visit www.homeheathelpline.org.uk.