energy bills on uc

vulcan56
vulcan56 Online Community Member Posts: 11 Listener
edited April 2022 in Universal Credit (UC)
hi. im 64 yrs old with health conditions my next energy bill will be £200 for the month yet i only get £75 a week uc. to live on so that leaves £100 a month for internet; water; council tax; food; bus fairs; clothes,ect  it won't stretch that far. shall i just end it.

Comments

  • vulcan56
    vulcan56 Online Community Member Posts: 11 Listener
    oh forgot and £12 a month bus fairs to to the job centre.

  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    edited April 2022
    If you are not already claiming it you are likely to be able to claim Council Tax Reduction from your local authority which would help with your Council Tax (although in most local authorities it doesn’t cover all of it).
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    woodbine said:
    Have you checked you are getting all the benefits you should be getting?

    https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/survey/1/a71cafd6-ac9d-4d66-9b7c-e35f96b4b7bc

    OP is claiming UC which has replaced all other benefits and the only one left to claim is Council tax reduction, advised by calcotti.
    Of course there's also PIP but a benefits calculator wouldn't show entitlement to this because it's a disability benefit.
  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    OP, if you have any health problems affecting your ability to work have you ever had a Work Capability Assessment?
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    calcotti said:
    OP, if you have any health problems affecting your ability to work have you ever had a Work Capability Assessment?

    Another thread suggests OP is currently waiting for their WCA. https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/89943/got-to-go-to-jobcentre-weekly-on-sick#latest

  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    Thanks for highlighting, poppy.
  • Alex_Alumni
    Alex_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,538 Championing
    Hello @vulcan56 something which might be able to help with energy bills is the Disability Energy Support Service from Scope.

    Support with your energy and water needs

    Our expert advisers can help and talk you through a wide range of topics related to your energy and water needs, including:

    • managing energy and water debt
    • changing your meter
    • energy and water efficiency
    • accessing benefits, grants, and trusts
    • free fuel vouchers (conditions apply)
    • contacting or complaining to your supplier
    • understanding your gas and electricity bills
    • understanding how to use your heating systems
    • support registering with the Priority Services Register
    Please bear in mind that the service is experiencing high demand for telephone appointments, but do reach out if you feel we can support you.

    I hope our members been able to help reassure you as well, but if there's anything you're still unsure of, please do let us know.

    Alex
  • janer1967
    janer1967 Online Community Member Posts: 21,922 Championing
    Hi 

    How much has your energy bill increased by ? 

    If it is more than the 54% cap then I would challenge the increase with your supplier 
  • Emma52
    Emma52 Online Community Member Posts: 108 Empowering
    I live in a Council house and my water lumped in with my rent. It is a set amount and I am in receipt of housing benefit. Is there any help for those in my position. 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    edited December 2022
    Emma52 said:
    I live in a Council house and my water lumped in with my rent. It is a set amount and I am in receipt of housing benefit. Is there any help for those in my position. 

    As the thread is related to energy bills i assume your question is related to this. The Government are giving everyone named on an energy account £66/67/month from Oct to March 2023. How you receive this will depend on your energy supplier. Some are paying it straight onto their energy account and reducing their monthly DD.
    There's also the Warm Home Discount of £150, if you're entitled. Details here. https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-and-social-schemes/warm-home-discount-whd
    If you were 66 between 19th to 25th September there's also the Winter Fuel Payment. https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/how-much-youll-get

  • Emma52
    Emma52 Online Community Member Posts: 108 Empowering
    HI Poppy, I was asking if there was any help for people with water charges when the charges are put together with Council rent. This was prompted by the face book/scope enquiry for disabled people who would like help with water charges. Hope this clarified things for you. Let's face it any help at the moment is appreciated.

  • L_Volunteer
    L_Volunteer Community Volunteer Adviser, Scope Member Posts: 7,922 Championing
    I agree @Emma52 - any help at the moment is appreciated. Please don't hesitate to let us know if we can do anything else to support you  :)
  • L_Volunteer
    L_Volunteer Community Volunteer Adviser, Scope Member Posts: 7,922 Championing
    Hi @vulcan56. I can see your thread has received quite a few responses now!

    Do you feel these responses have provided you with the support you were looking for? Please don't hesitate to let us know if we can do anything else to support you.

    We are all here for you and listening to you. You don't have to face this, or anything else, alone if you don't want to.

    Take care for now and we will look forward to, hopefully, hearing from you again soon  :)
  • durhamjaide2001
    durhamjaide2001 Scope Member Posts: 13,778 Championing
    You might  be able to claim other benefits as well 

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