Cold homes waste energy, waste money and can harm the health of their occupants. To help you improve your finances and avoid health issues, there are a number of schemes available:
Help for Households
The Government’s Help for Households (external link) campaign pulls together a range of support to help with the cost of living and rising energy costs. An eligibility tool (external link) is included, so you can quickly check what benefits and financial support you may be entitled to.
Energy Saving Trust
Visit The Energy Saving Trust (external link) for general tips and advice on how to save money on your fuel bills.
Cost of Living
Our Here for You pages are here to help, signposting you to services, organisations and resources that can support with things like working out your eligibility to benefits, borrowing wisely, keeping warm and keeping well.
Access welfare support
Wigan Council’s Household Support Fund is designed to support households in the most need with food, energy, water bills and with other wider essential costs. The scheme runs from 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024 inclusive.
Support maintaining your home
The Handyperson Service (external link) provided by Age UK Wigan Borough can help with small jobs around your home (at a competitive price), from fitting key safes and grab rails to fitting light bulbs.
Struggling to find a local contractor to carry out more extensive repairs in your home? Access the Council’s Good Trader Scheme (external link) for a list of reliable, reputable traders you can trust.
AWARM
If you struggle to keep warm at home and are living on a low income, or have a health condition/circumstances affected by living in a cold damp home, support is available through the AWARM service.
AWARM is a FREE service that can offer:
- Help to improve the efficiency of your home
- Benefit entitlement checks
- Heating upgrades, loft and wall insulation and draught proofing (subject to grant qualifying criteria and tenure).
Please note: Council tenants experiencing heating issues can report a repair online via their Housing Account.
To make a referral for either yourself or a friend/family member you can:
Partner schemes to help you reduce your fuel bill
Schemes
| Fuel Priority Register |
All energy suppliers are obligated to keep a Fuel Priority Register for elderly or disabled customers. You can contact your supplier and ask to be put on this register. Free services include:
Free annual gas safety checks
Bills in different formats e.g. large print and Braille
Quarterly meter reading services
Priority in an emergency.
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| Winter Fuel Payment |
If you were born before 26th September 1956 you could get between £250 and £600 to help you pay your heating bills.
For more information please visit Winter Fuel Payment (external link).
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| Cold Weather Payment |
If you receive certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest, the Cold Weather Payment may help you.
Payments are made when your local temperature is recorded as, or forecast to be, an average of 0°C or below over seven consecutive days.
For more information please visit Cold Weather Payment (external link).
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