Keep warm this winter

This free, independent and confidential online and phone advice service is designed to connect people on low incomes or in poor health with help to stay warm during the winter.

One in 10,000 households in the UK are entitled to some form of help which is worth £160 on average. In particular, the helpline can help:

• Over 60s on benefits;
• People on benefits with young children;
• Disabled people on benefits.

How can people contact the Home Heat Helpline?

There are two ways to get in contact. Firstly, there is lots of information at www.homeheathelpline.org.uk including a simple energy checker that shows if people might be eligible for help.

People can also call the freephone number, 0800 33 66 99, to talk to a friendly expert on a confidential basis.

Advisers will provide guidance on consumer energy issues or engaging with energy companies. This includes:

• Guidance on whether callers might be eligible for discounts, rebates or a free insulation grant from their energy supplier;
• Information about the various measures and schemes available to help increase energy efficiency such as The Warm Front Scheme;
  
• Information about the Priority Services Register - this is the industry's disconnection safety net and means vulnerable customers will not be cut off even if they are unable to pay their bill;
• Details about energy companies' debt relief programmes;
• Information about smart meters;
• A description of the different ways people can pay for their energy.
• How to provide meter readings, and an explanation of why they are important;
• An explanation of how energy bills are calculated;
• Information about the Energy UK Safety Net which exists to protect vulnerable customers from disconnection.

Advisers will also provide energy savings tips, general energy efficiency advice and information about some state benefits.

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