Thousands missing out on government aid for fuel bills
Elderly and vulnerable people in the Westcountry could be missing out on vital help to keep their homes warm and cut down on fuel bills after applications to a flagship grant scheme dropped by almost 70 per cent.
The Warm Front initiative aims to provide the poorest people in the community with help to insulate their homes and upgrade heating equipment.
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However, according to research by Consumer Focus and National Energy Action, it is massively under subscribed this year.
The organisations say that nationally some £30 million is likely to go unclaimed and that the South West has witnessed a huge decline in the number of people signing up.
From April to December last year, applications in the region fell 68 per cent to 3,355, from 10,455 the year before.
Audrey Gallacher, director of energy at Consumer Focus, urged anyone who thought they might be eligible to come forward and make a claim.
"The poorest pensioners and families will have been hit particularly hard by high energy prices," she said.
"Many are living in cold homes, which could put their health at risk.
"It is very disappointing that people who need Warm Front help to make their homes warmer and cheaper to heat are likely to miss out."
Nationally, the Warm Front scheme is expected to see up to a fifth of its £143 million worth of funding for this year going unclaimed. It is estimated that this money could help up to 16,000 household struggling to afford their energy bills to cut their costs by a potential £650 per year.
The fall in applications has been blamed on the Government failing to advertise the scheme because it was anticipated demand would outstrip supply.
There have also been changes in the eligibility criteria and a smaller pot of cash available this year over previous years.
Jenny Saunders, chief executive of National Energy Action, said the milder winter weather may have resulted in not as many people being driven towards the scheme.
She added that applications for help from this year's allocation could be made up to March 31.
A Department of Energy and Climate Change spokesman said the scheme worked and was helping people.
"Warm Front is now better targeted to make sure the poorest and most vulnerable get the help they need," he said. "We are also doing other things, like helping around two million households this year under the Warm Front discount scheme, continuing the winter fuel payments and providing energy payments for the most vulnerable when it gets really cold.
"In the longer term we will be helping people use less energy through the Green Deal and giving extra help to those who need it most."
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by thebannedone
Saturday, January 28 2012, 1:29PM
“Difficult to insulat a flat on the second floor of a Grade II building faced with sandstone. It falls off and annoys the neighbours.
The 'failed' energy conservation measures should have read 'replace-a-boiler' with one at an extortionate amount by trained monkeys, 'replace-a-window' forgetting conservation zone restrictions at exorbitant prices with only double-galzing when the German equivalent is energy efficient triple-glazing, 'lag-a-pensioner' where only the mentally infirm qualify and have to pay, and finally 'fill-a-cavity' when the filler is not mixed correctly, applied by the so-called qualified, resulting in the ties once thought to be stainless steel to rot. Add in HIPS and you have makework and costalot.
All the energy companies want you to use flourescent energy-saving bulbs - I replaced mine with high intensity LED three years ago (6W equivalent light normally consuming 100W!) - OLEDs while consuming even less are not yet cost effective!
Anyone who is currently using GLS bulbs for a non-medical reason should change all their bulbs for the LED equivalent where available.”
by esotericage3
Saturday, January 28 2012, 12:21PM
“@2ladybugs
Yes, the forgotten ones. A ever expanding and growing population of elderly in the UK who gave their lives to free this country from tyranny, only to have concessive Governments cheat them out of what should be financial security in their retirement years. Considering that one of the most wealthy O.A.P in the country, namely the Queen, applied for hardship payments, and actually got it without any fuss, says alot doesn't it Ladybugs. There's certainly something very rotten in the state of Denmark, that's for sure.”
by 2ladybugs
Saturday, January 28 2012, 12:06PM
“@esotericage3
There you have it... the forgotten ones. The ones who can't/won't fight for themselves. They are usually too proud or too sick too ask for help.”
by esotericage3
Saturday, January 28 2012, 11:57AM
“"All bankers pensions and millions of jobs depend bank share prices".Charlespk
Yes they do. The monetary system isn't to blame, but those that control the system itself. We as a sovereign people should have a say in how money is distributed to all sections of society, not just by a financial oligarchy who see it fit to gather wealth for themselves, and use the power of money to penalise the most vulnerable sections of society that are created by them through the power of money in a false predatory economy based solely on financial gain for the few over the millions. Government is meant to be in the best intrests of it's people, not the other way round. The elderly have enough problems surviving year in and year out without having to deal/fill out highly complicated forms to get heating allowance. It's no small wonder every year that thousands are missing out when many elderly can't even leave their own homes to illness and other age related problems. The elderly always seem to be targeted, I wonder why?.”
by 2ladybugs
Saturday, January 28 2012, 11:46AM
“The trouble with the country today. Too many people who have not thought things through properly, telling us what to do, how to live our lives, with complete disregard to the consequences.”