A collection of resources for tackling the rising cost of energy.
Interactive energy cost calculator:
You might like to use this calculator to pick an appliance, select how long they’ll be in use for, and find out how much they cost to run.
This Citizens Advice booklet is a very useful summary of the help and advice available
Home Heating Support Fund (via referrals)
The Home Heating Support Fund provides financial support for people in Scotland who are at risk of limiting their own energy usage because of significant financial hardship. The fund is available to energy customers using any type of fuel or payment method.
To apply to the fund you must have received energy or money advice from an accredited agency. You can check the list of registered agencies that can help on the homeheatingadvice.scot website. These registered referral partners can submit an application on your behalf. There is also the option to submit your own application through the household application route if you can provide evidence that you have received advice from an organisation on the list. Payments are made directly to your energy supplier.
Find out more about the Home Heating Support Fund and how to apply on the homeheatingadvice.scot website
Other useful links on how to save energy:
- https://www.theheatproject.org/
- get-green-now.com/save-energy-at-home/
- Energy advice for your home – Energy Saving Trust
- CAP UK | Home
Welfare Rights Team
This link takes you to the main webpage for the PKC Welfare Rights Team. It explains about the income maximisation service and how to contact them, as well as their online referral form (you can self-refer or be referred by workers/organisations (if you give verbal consent). There are also various links on this page explaining about other services .
PKC Benefits and Advice
This link takes you to a range of PKC webpages with information on various benefits which might be useful.
Crisis Grants
The Scottish Welfare Fund administers Crisis Grants to people who have no money left to pay for food or energy costs. There is no need to be in receipt of a benefit to apply. Applications are treated in confidence and can be made online here or over the telephone on 01738 476900 (option 2). Crisis Grants are exactly that, they do not need to be paid back.
Social media
You can get regular updates online. Simply like the PKC Welfare Rights Team Facebook page or search for PKC Welfare Rights Team
Summary of the help with energy costs and the cost of living which has already been announced
- £150 to be deducted from Council Tax bills for Council Tax payers in bands A-D and for those receiving Council Tax Reduction, to help with the cost of living
- Other additional payments – note people can receive any or all of these if they qualify. None of these payments has to be repaid.
- £400 one-off payment to all households Households will get a payment of £400 towards their energy costs over the 6 months from October 2022. Direct debit and credit customers will have the money credited to their account, while customers with pre-payment meters will have the money applied to their meter or paid via a voucher.
- £650 total payment to people receiving means tested benefits People receiving a benefit like Pension Credit will qualify. This will be paid in two lump sums. People will qualify for the first payment if they if they received means tested benefits (or were making a successful claim for them) on 25th May 2022. The first payment will be July, the second in the autumn. The government will set a qualifying date for the second payment.
- £300 Pensioner cost of living payment This additional one-off payment will be made as a top-up to the Winter Fuel Payment in November / December 2022. People qualify if they are over State Pension age (66) between 19 – 25 September 2022.
- £150 Disability cost of living payment This will be paid in September to people who receive a disability benefit like Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Adult Disability payment, Child Disability payment, Armed Forces Independence Payment, Constant Attendance Allowance or War Pension Mobility Supplement.
Home Energy Advice Team:
The HEAT Project provide a free, professional energy advice service to households throughout Perth and Kinross to help them become more energy efficient and reduce energy bills.
The Home Energy Advice Team (HEAT) will be running drop-in sessions at The Learning Curve, AK Bell Library, York Place, Perth on 30 September 2022 and 25 November 2022 from 10:00 – 12:00 each day to offer support and advice with your home energy bills. Feel free to drop-in to any of the sessions.
Alternatively, you can call 07868 864418 to arrange a visit.
Visit The Heat Project website to find out more about the support and advice it has to offer.
