As winter approaches, many households brace for the increased costs associated with heating their homes and managing higher utility bills. Sources suggest that around 10 million pensioners in England and Wales will lose their winter fuel payments under new plans announced by the chancellor.
In the past, winter fuel payments or similar financial aids have helped ease the burden for millions, particularly the elderly and vulnerable. However, recent decisions to scrap winter payments have raised concerns about the well- being of those most in need. From this autumn, those not on pension credit or other means- tested benefits will no longer get the annual payments, worth between £100 and £300.
There are several reasons as to why winter payments have been scrapped including budget costs and energy crisis. However, the scrapping of the winter fuel payments has created consequences for those who depend on the assistance.
Here at Premier Community, we know this may affect a lot of our elderly service users, as they are particularly vulnerable during winter, being more susceptible to cold-related illnesses such as hypothermia, pneumonia and the flu are just a few to name. Many live on fixed incomes, making it difficult to absorb the rising costs of heating without additional support.
We acknowledge our disabled service users will also be affected by the scrap of winter payments, as many people with disabilities face higher energy costs due to medical equipment or they need to keep their homes at a stable temperature for health reasons.
With this in mind, we’ve compiled a few energy saving tips to keep you or your loved ones safe this winter.
Ways to keep warm & safe this winter:
One way to keep warm effectively if to maximise home insulation, use draft stoppers or weatherstrips on doors and windows to prevent cold air from entering your home. Also, thick thermal curtains can help keep heat inside. Open them during the day to let sunlight in and close them in the evening to trap the heat. Finally, loft insulation can prevent heat from escaping through the roof. This can make a significant difference in energy usage.
Another way to save energy this upcoming winter is to optimise heating. You could focus on heating only the rooms in use rather than the whole house. This can be done by switching radiators off in other rooms or by using a fan heater to warm up specific area. Closing doors to unused rooms will also exclude uninvited drafts and keep heat in the rooms in use. You could ask your visiting carer to carry out some of these tasks for you.
When using the central heating set your heating to a timer to avoid wasting energy. You could program it to turn off during the hours of when you’re asleep and when you are out the house to prevent unwanted use and waste of energy. This also might be something our carer can support you with.
Finally, try setting your thermostat 1 degree lower to see if you still find the temperature comfortable. According to Citizens Advice every degree you turn your thermostat down can save around 10% on your energy bill. However, if you have a health condition that could be made worse by the cold, you shouldn’t set your thermostat lower than 21°C.
You can visit the link to read more on Citizens Advice website for more information on saving money when heating your home. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/save-energy-at-home/heat-your-home-efficiently/
Layer Up to Keep Warm:
Finally, layer up and use warm materials such as blankets. Have an extra fluffy, thermal blanket for those colder evenings sat by the TV. Using a blanket will be extra beneficial if you decided to lower the thermostat during the evening and night times. We can adjust your digital care plan to ensure that are carers are supporting you with this.
Wear multiple layers such as thermals, woolly jumpers, thick, fluffy socks and securely fitted slippers to keep your body warm without relying on the heating. You could also visit the link and view the Dunlop slippers range available on our website, perfect to keep your feet and ankles warm. https://www.premiercommunity.co.uk/shop/footwear%2Fdunlop-slippers/62?page=1&limit=30&sort_by=category_order&sort_order=asc
Together, there are many other practical ways you can keep yourself safe and warm this winter such as smart use of appliances, using timers and smart devices and many more ways.
However, these are just a few tips to keep safe with the changes to the allowance of winter fuel payments. If you are unsure if you are eligible to claim winter fuel payments, click the link to find out if you are https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/eligibility
