Discounts, support and other help

If you get benefits, you might be able to get £150 off your electric bill or £150 added to your prepayment meter.

• You can only get the discount if your supplier is in the scheme.
• You do not need to apply, payments are automatic.
• Your supplier will apply the discount to your bill by the end of March.

For more details, visit: Warm Home Discount Scheme (GOV.UK).

This is an annual one-off payment to help pay for heating in winter.

You should get this once you reach State Pension age and in receipt of:

• pension credit;
• or one of these benefits:
  • Income Support.
  • Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance.
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
  • Universal Credit.

Please note: You may need to apply.

For more details or to apply, visit: Winter Fuel Payment (GOV.UK).

This is for eligible households on means tested benefits in areas where exceptionally cold weather is forecast or has occurred.

• If you are eligible, this you be an automatic payment.
• £25 per week that qualifies between 1st November and 31st March.

To find out more, visit: Cold Weather Payments (GOV.UK).

Help is at hand, dealing with money related matters can be off-putting, however, there is lots of support for you. Cost of living Support Calderdale partners.

For more about this, visit: Help for Households (GOV.UK).

We have number of schemes that could support you with the cost of insulation and heating measures.

These change often and some cover the full cost of the work needed, if you qualify.

To find out more, see: Healthy Home Schemes.

Together Housing have an energy toolkit to help you make the most of your home.

It can help you to understand your bill, read your meter and covers ways to pay your bills and more.

To find out more, visit: Energy Toolkit.

You may be able to get help if you are on a prepayment meter, but this is not guaranteed.

Note: If you have already had vouchers, you may not be able to get more.

Residents cannot access fuel vouchers directly and need to be referred by a support service:

• Calderdale CAB:
  • Phone: 0808 278 7879.
  • Visit: Get Help.
• Together Housing:
  • Phone: 0300 330 5524.
  • Visit: Financial support for energy bills.

Citizens Advice have lots of information about energy bills, supply, meters and complaints.

For more details, visit: Your energy supply.

This helps UK residents stay warm, stay well and save money on household bills. They offers free, impartial advice to help you:

• take control of your bills;
• save energy where possible in the home;
• and access other services/initiatives that are available.

They can provide different kinds of support, such as:

• Advice on paying off debt with energy or water companies.
• Spotting other concerns for a referral to other services.

For more details, visit: Green Doctor: Get help.

Winter is a time when people are at more risk of injury or illness. By thinking ahead, you can reduce risk and be prepared should the cold weather hit suddenly.

We have a guide to remind you of the small things you can do now to prepare for winter. To find out more, see: Be prepared for winter.

You could qualify for this if you are:

• of pensionable age;
• disabled;
• have an ill-health condition;
• or are in receipt of a means tested benefit.

Phone your energy companies to register for the scheme.

Customers on the register can get extra services that are free of charge, such as:

• Annual gas safety checks for qualifying customers.
• Password schemes.
• Bills available in large print and Braille as well as talking bills.
• Quarterly meter reading services.
• Having a prepayment meter moved to improve access.
• Bill nominee scheme.
• Priority in an emergency. (This could include providing alternative heating and cooking facilities in the event of supply disconnection.)

Important: In winter months (1st October to 31st March), suppliers cannot disconnect your premises if you are on the PSR.

For more about this, visit:

• Disability discrimination and energy suppliers (Citizens Advice).
• Powergrid Care (Northern Powergrid).

Annual safety checks and servicing during the summer months should be carried out by a qualified Gas Safe engineer.

• Faulty gas appliances can give off a poisonous gas called Carbon Monoxide (CO), which is clear and does not smell.
• It can cause headaches, flu like symptoms, nausea and sickness, drowsiness, visual problems, unconsciousness and potentially death.
• To detect this, alarms should fitted in appropriate positions for every gas appliance in the home.

For more about this, visit: Gas safety - Carbon monoxide awareness frequently asked questions (Health and Safety Executive).

Note: Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for a free annual gas safety check. This would be through the Priority Services Register scheme, run by your energy company.

The landlord must keep your water supply, water heating, gas, electricity, sanitation and space heating in working order.

Gas safety

They must:

• Make sure gas equipment they supply is safely installed and maintained by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
• Have a registered engineer do an annual gas safety check on each appliance and flue.
• Give you a copy of the gas safety check record before you move in or within 28 days of the check.

Electrical safety

They must make sure:

• The electrical system is safe, for example sockets and light fittings.
• All appliances they supply are safe, for example cookers and kettles.

Fire safety

They must:

• Follow safety regulations.
• Provide:
  • a smoke alarm on each storey;
  • and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a solid fuel burning appliance. (Such as coal fire or wood burning stove.)
• Check you have access to escape routes at all times.
• Make sure the furniture and furnishings they supply are fire safe.
• Provide fire alarms and extinguishers if the property is a large house in multiple occupation (GOV.UK).

This gas has no colour, taste, odour and does irritate.

• It is a by-product of the incomplete combustion of fuels, due to a lack of oxygen being present.
• If enough oxygen is present there should be complete combustion, which leads to carbon dioxide being made.
• Most combustion processes (natural or man-made) produce some carbon monoxide.

When breathed in, it enters the blood through the lungs and attaches to the body's oxygen carrier, haemoglobin. This reduces the amount of oxygen that can be carried round the body.

Brief exposure to small amounts

This can cause headache, flushing, nausea, dizziness, vertigo, muscle pain or personality changes.

Exposure to small amounts for a long time

This can lead to flu like symptoms. These include tiredness, headaches, nausea, dizziness, personality changes, memory problems, loss of vision and dementia.

It can be hard to tell the difference between this exposure and other common illnesses.

Exposure to higher amounts

This can cause movement problems, weakness, confusion, lung and heart problems, loss of consciousness and death.

To help protect you from exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide, fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm. (This should meet British Kitemark or European EN 50291 standards).

What to do if you are exposed to it

If the alarm sounds or you believe there is a leak (unignited gas does not contain carbon monoxide):

• Stop using all appliances and evacuate the property right away. (Try to stay calm and avoid raising your heart rate.)
• Report the incident, phone either:
  • The National Gas Emergency Service: 0800 111 999.
  • The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Gas Safety Advice Line: 0800 300 363.
• Do not go back into the property. (Wait for advice from the emergency services.)
• Get medical help right away.

If you think you have been exposed and feel unwell or are worried:

• Phone the NHS: 111.
• Contact your GP.

Important note: In an emergency, always phone: 999.

When people are removed from the source of carbon monoxide exposure:

• their health usually improves;
• and their symptoms subside;
• but it is still important to seek medical advice.

For more about this, visit: Carbon monoxide awareness - Gas safety (HSE).