Tips for staying safe and warm this Winter

UNISON Welfare - winter fuel payments

UNISON Welfare are offering one off payments of £50 to help low paid members (single members earning less than £18,000 a year and couples earnings less than £23,000 total) the opportunity to claim for payment of £50 per household to help with fuel payments this year.
Applicants must not have more than £3,000 in savings.
For more information click this link to download a flyer -
click here

Fuel costs – reduced rates for low income or vulnerable customers The Warm Home Discount Scheme will give an automatic £120 rebate on electricity bills for this winter and the next three winters to those who qualify under the scheme.To qualify people need to be in receipt of the guarantee credit of Pension Credit on 11 September 2011. The Department for Work and Pensions will try to make sure you get this discount automatically, but should you miss out you will have to ask for the discount from your electricity supplier. Some electricity customers who don't get the guarantee part of Pension Credit may also get the discount, but it will be up to your supplier to decide who qualifies. read more about the scheme

Information on how to save energy and in turn lower your fuel payments is available on Wiltshire CAB's website.

The Warm & Well Scheme
The Warm and Well scheme began its work in October 2001, working throughout Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire to ensure as many people as possible are kept warm each winter, by making home owners and privately renting tenants homes more comfortable to live in and fuel efficient. The Warm and Well scheme is also now available to residents in Wiltshire
All homeowners and privately renting tenants in Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire and Wiltshire are entitled to at least a partial grant towards insulation. All grants are subject to availability and survey, which is completely free and no obligation. All surveys and work are carried out by the accredited installer, Domestic & General Insulation Ltd.
There are grants available for:

• Cavity wall insulation
• Loft insulation

In certain Local Authority areas there are grants for A-rated boilers and central heating systems. The 'Do I qualify?' section shows what measures are available in different areas and what the qualifying criteria is.
Warm and Well is managed by Severn Wye Energy Agency on behalf of the Local Authorities in Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. We work together with the insulation company, Domestic and General Ltd, to provide information on home insulation, energy efficiency and how to claim a grant towards energy efficiency measures. For more information contact the Energy Saving Trust advice centre and ask about Warm & Well on 0800 512 012.

Help With Heating Your Home
What are Cold Weather Payments and Winter Fuel Payments? Find out if you qualify, and how to claim, on DirectGov's information page.

Self-help for how to drive in snowy conditions
Wiltshire Council has prepared some tips and safety information for preparing and coping in snow. Please remember to only make journeys if completely necessary when conditions get bad.