Fuel Bills

[Bern2]

Hi all!

Did anyone watch BBC2 1.30pm today - Working Lunch. It seems that if you are in receipt of certain benefits you may be eligible for discounts on your fuel bills. Vulnerable groups was the description given! DLA was one of the benefits listed. Long-term chronic conditions was another. I think that may cover us!

The presenter advised the consumer to contact their gas and electricity supplier and ask what the benefits are and what personal circumstances are taken into consideration, and if you meet the criteria what deductions may be expected from your fuel bills.

I went and looked at my last bills to see if there was any mention of this service. It was not advertised on the back of my bills where all the other information is displayed! Funny that!

Of course I rang my supplier straight away. Needless to say the call centre was very busy as people reacted to the programme. The person on the telephone did not know much, but eventually came back with a form that was completed there and then. This will be passed to another department to assess whether I will qualify. They will contact me 'later', whenever that is!

The programme also mentioned that Energywatch would be able to let you have information. I rang the number 08459 060708 and spoke to an operator. She explained that they did not have any information at the moment because they were not forewarned by the BBC, they were overwhelmed by callers. So try tomorrow or check their website www.energywatch.org.uk.

I will let you know how I get on. Will you try?

Regards
Bern

[Clare.T]

Thanks Bern for this very handy information ! There's so much going that we aren't made aware of for very obvious reasons.

About the" long term chronic conditions", I doubt if lupus is included on that list, assuming it's the same as the list of conditions that people get free prescriptions for. There was a lot of fuss to get lupus included on such lists a couple of years ago along with MS, without success. Lupus being such a variable disease how each person is affected and with its varying intensity over time for many people.
Sometimes people are "pleased" to find that long term heavy use of steroids has caused adrenal insufficiency, which does qualify for free meds etc.

I am over 60 so I at least get the winter fuel allowance. I'd really like an allowance for air cooling devices too style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

Cheers
Clare

[Fishaholic]

Yep, it is true.

With British Gas you had to apply before the New Year. I tried three times, only to be told by staff that I would have been contacted automatically were I eligible. They refused to send me any forms. I thus missed the deadline and am ?60 worse off. My letter of complaint was fobbed off and I was asked not to write again but phone the helpline who had created the mess in the first place.

I wasn't the only one treated this way. I have heard of many other disabled people to whom the same thing happened. At the same time, British Gas were telling the government how great they were at helping the disabled and elderly with their fuel bills in a time of need. A PR strategy without actually doing what they promised if I ever heard one.

[Bern2]

Hi again,

I was going to ask about 'free prescriptions' and what has been happening to get Lupus included on the list? MS beat us again! I made full use of the prepaid prescription service offered by the NHS (forms available from the chemist) and saved a fortune. Now I have turned 60 my prescriptions are free - save even more!

Thanks for the tip about the ?200 fuel allowance. I believe all those aged 60 and over are entitled to this allowance.

Well back to the fuel discounts. I rang my supplier back today and was told that, if I am elegible, I would get a 20% deduction. I will have an answer May/June 06. I will sit back and wait now! Nothing ventured nothing gained!

Regards
Bern

[birdie]

can I be cheeky and ask who your supplier is please? We are with N Power

[Bern2]

Hi

My supplier is southern electric. The BBC programme said that all suppliers should provide help for vulnerable groups, by law, if I heard that right! At least give your supplier a ring and ask them to go through application form with you. They ask you the questions about your personal circumstances and put the form forward for assessment. Southern electric have been inundated with enquiries.


Good luck

Regards
Bern

[Vette73ds]

I work for a water utility company and we have a vulnerable household scheme for customers together with what we call an 'access' register. Not sure if other water companies do the same but ours takes into consideration different needs i.e. for skin conditions/similar where several baths are needed a day and other things. We also offer large print bills, braille bills and other general services that people may not be aware of.

[Bern2]

Hi,

Thank you very much for that information. It is looking as though there might be a service provided for vulnerable groups by the utility groups in general.

It is worth a phone call to your supplier of gas, water and electric and enquire what is on offer, to see if it is applicable to your own particular circumstances. I will give mine a ring to see if I can benefit in any way. Every little helps!

Regards

Bern

[Christine UK]

do you know its not until someone brings this up that it makes u think.
We use the phone a lot of course because of dr apps,ringing up for blood results,hospital appts etc,water yes i very often have a bath twice a day becaus eof the joint problems
and heating well lets not go there ! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/crying.gif

[Clare.T]

Recently there were problems with my gas central heating. I found that I come into N Power's vulnerable class, getting priority assistance, simply because of being over 60. I think my daughter mentioned the lupus arthritis too for added clout.

Clare

[Bern2]

Hi, it's me!

I rang my water supplier. They were very helpful. They explained that because I was on standard rate I can use water as freely as I like, without any special measures being activated. So, for me, no problem.

However, if you are on a meter and are using more than average consumption, and are in reciept of benefits, or have certain illnesses, help may be available. I did not ask about LUPUS in particular.

Also, if you are having difficulty paying the bill or are in debt, again they are prepared to discuss individual circumstances to see if help can be made available.

Hope they all offer this assistance.

Regards to you all

Bern

[Bern2]

hallo again,

I recieved an official application form from my gas and electricity supplier the other day, to claim a reduction in payments.

Although I am on lower rate DLA, I do not pay 10% or more of my income in paying those bills so I will not go ahead with the application, as I do not meet the criteria.

Hope this is of some help, but all companies offer different help so it is worth making an enquiry.

Regards

Bern

[balla]

HI just read this post does anyone use powergen i live in cumbria,My bills are always high untill recently i was paying 112.00 per month as we dont have central heating and our house is warmed by coal as we don't have gas, We live in a little village were gas isn't connected.So the electricity is our water heater and as i have to have constant baths due to incontinance due to kidney removale and also sweat alot due to systemic lupus i will try phoneing tomorrow. I am at the moment paying 70 per month elec.But that means turning hot water off untill 1 hour before i need a bath this i am finding hard as i forget things due to memory. But i can never say when i will have an accident with incontinance.