Help with the rising costs in gas and electricity

With the worrying rise in costs with gas and electricity as we move into winter, it’s not a surprise that families are really concerned about covering these costs.  

If you’re in debt to your energy company, you need to deal with this first to make sure you aren’t disconnected.

Your family may be entitled to additional support to manage energy costs, including...

 

Warm Home Discount

You could get £150 off your electricity bill for winter 2023 to 2024 under the Warm Home Discount Scheme. You need to apply directly to your supplier for further eligibility requirements see: Warm Home Discount Scheme: If you're on a low income in Scotland - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Help with energy saving improvements

You may be eligible to get help with energy-savings improvements to your home if you get certain benefits or live in social housing, see link for further details: Help from your energy supplier: the Energy Company Obligation - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Child Winter Heating Assistance

Winter Heating Payment helps people on low-income benefits who might have extra heating needs. It's automatically paid once a year. The payment for winter 2023 to 2024 is £55.05: Winter Heating Payment - mygov.scot

Cost of Living Payment

This is available for families on means tested benefits. To see if you are eligible visit: Cost of Living Payments 2023 to 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Winter Fuel Payment

If you were born before 25 September 1957 you could get between £250 and £600 to help pay your heating bills see link for further information: Winter Fuel Payment: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Child Winter Heating Payment

 Payment to help disabled children and young people and their families with heating costs over winter:  Child Winter Heating Payment - mygov.scot

How Children 1st's Financial Wellbeing team can help you with your energy costs

Dealing with money worries is really hard. Children 1st’s Financial Wellbeing team understand that finding your way through all the different benefits you may be entitled to can feel overwhelming.

You can get help from us: 
  • To deal with your energy debts by putting manageable repayments plans in place.
  • To speak to suppliers on your behalf.
  • To find out about and apply to grants and hardship funds for families affected by the cost-of-living crisis, which may be available from your energy company.
  • To access fuel top up vouchers.
  • To get support from Home Energy Scotland, who can offer energy saving efficiency advice. 

“I am very grateful for this help with the fuel vouchers to help with my gas and electricity as since the prices have gone up it has been crazy to keep up with it and the cost of living. The vouchers makes it little easier with shopping and other stuff needed.”

 

 

Contact Us

Children 1st financial wellbeing advisors work alongside our local children and family teams in Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, Glasgow, Moray, Aberdeen and East Lothian.

You can find contact details for each of our financial wellbeing advisors here

If you live in a different part of Scotland, your family can still get money advice from us, by contacting Children 1st Parentline who can arrange for a financial wellbeing advisor to call  you back

You can speak to a member of our financial wellbeing team by sending an email with your contact information to: financialwellbeing@children1st.org.uk