Message forwarded by David Spicer, Parish Council.
Here are a few things which some more vilnerable people might need to know.
It is quite long and complicated but I decided not to cut it down in any way - Yoland
For 1 and 2 applications must be made by 31 May 2023
- Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding
· Households without a direct relationship to a domestic electricity supplier are able to apply for government support with their energy bills
- in a park home
- in a care home
- on a houseboat
- in a mobile home
- on a farm
- off the electricity grid
· Households eligible for the £400 lump sum to apply as soon as possible
· A telephone helpline is also available from today for people without access to the internet to apply for the payment
0808 175 3287
https://www.gov.uk/get-help-energy-bills/offgrid-park-mobile-care-home
- Alternative Fuels Payment
If you use alternative fuels for heating
You may be eligible for a £200 Alternative Fuels Payment (AFP) if both the following are true:
· your household is not connected to the mains gas grid
· you use alternative fuels as your main form of heating
This is on top of the £400 from your electricity supplier.
You're eligible for this payment if the main way you heat your home uses:
· tank or bottled gas
· liquid petroleum gas (LPG)
· oil
· wood
· solid fuel
Most homes that are eligible for this payment will get it automatically as a credit on their electricity bills from February 2023.
If you think you should have got a payment but have not, contact your electricity supplier.
You may not get the payment automatically if your home is either:
· in an area which is mainly connected to the gas grid
· not connected to either the gas or the electricity grid
If you do not get this payment automatically
Apply for alternative fuel bill support if you do not get it automatically - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- If you pay for your electricity as part of your rent
Pass-through requirements for energy price support provided to intermediaries - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Your landlord may charge an all-inclusive rent, which includes a fixed cost for your energy usage. They should agree a discount with you in line with your tenancy agreement.
You may not get the full amount of support - for example, if the fixed cost already protects you from the energy price increase.
Your landlord must however pass on some or all of the support they get from any of the following schemes:
· the Energy Bills Support Scheme
· the Energy Price Guarantee
· the Energy Bill Relief Scheme
·
They should give you a fair and reasonable amount and must not make a profit. This is called the 'pass-through requirement' for energy price support.
They should do this as soon as they can. You should not need to do anything to get this support.
Your landlord must tell you in writing within 30 days of getting the support:
· how much you will get and why
· what you can do if you disagree
·
If your landlord does not pass on the discount or you disagree
If you do not agree with the support they have passed to you, write to your landlord. You can read more about pass-through and what landlords must do, including template letters you can use.
If you're still not happy, you can make a claim for money against them at a county court.
David Spicer LLB
Barrister
Chair of Ruyton XI Towns Parish Council
0750 686 8466
