Your home in winter

Winter Fuel Payment

If you were born before 23 September 1958 you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills. This is known as a 'Winter Fuel Payment'.

You usually get a Winter Fuel Payment automatically if you're eligible and you get the State Pension or another social security benefit (not Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit or Universal Credit).

Most payments are made automatically between November and December. 

If you're eligible but don't get paid automatically, you'll need to make a claim.

The deadline to make a claim for winter 2024 to 2025 is 31 March 2025.

To find out if you qualify or need to make a claim visit GOV.UK: Winter Fuel Payments or call Winter Fuel Payment Helpline on 0800 731 0160 or Textphone 0800 731 0464.

Cold Weather Payment

You may get a Cold Weather Payment if you're getting certain benefits.

You'll get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below for 7 consecutive days.

The Cold Weather Payment scheme runs from 1 November to 31 March. 

You'll get a payment of £25 for each 7 day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March.

For more information please see GOV.UK: Cold Weather Payment.

Warm Home Discount Scheme

You could be eligible for £150 off your electricity bill for winter under the Warm Home Discount Scheme.

The money isn't paid to you - it's a one-off discount on your electricity bill.

For more information visit GOV.UK: Warm Homes Discount.

We are far more likely to catch a cold or flu during winter. Cold weather can also cause other serious health problems like pneumonia, heart attacks and depression.

One of the best ways to stay well during the winter is to stay warm.

During the day

• Set your thermostat to 21^oC and heat all the rooms you use
• If you can't afford to heat all rooms make sure you keep your living room warm and heat your bedroom before going to bed
• Set your timer to switch on before you get up and switch off when you go to bed
• Close the curtains at dusk and fit thermal linings if you can. This will keep the heat in
• Don't block up air vents, as fires and heaters need ventilation. Good ventilation also helps to prevent condensation and when heating rooms with an open fire use a fire guard
• Test your carbon monoxide alarms. If you don't have any alarms, you need to get one fitted in each room that has a gas appliance, as there may be a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning if air vents become blocked
• Contact your local Age UK or Welfare Rights Service for advice on benefits and any other financial support you may be eligible for

During the night

• Try to keep a temperature above 18^oC in your bedroom overnight
• If you use a fire or heater in your bedroom open the window or door at night a little for ventilation
• An electric blanket or hot water bottle will help keep you warm, but never use both together as you could be electrocuted
• Make sure to check the safety instructions on your electric blanket before use, some are only designed to warm beds and should not be used throughout the night. Remember, older blankets are much more likely to be faulty. Before using your electric blanket this winter, check for faults:
  • scorch marks
  • missing or damaged tie tapes
  • worm or damaged flex
  • loose connections
  • worn or frayed fabric
  • If your blanket has any of these faults do not use it and have it tested and / or replace it immediately. You can contact Trading Standards on 0191 424 7878 for further advice.

Financial support

For information see your home in winter: Financial support. 

Insulation

Make sure your home is fully insulated and your heating system is working efficiently.

Switching supplier

Around 98% of householders get their gas and electricity from the six largest suppliers, yet there are now 15 smaller independent suppliers operating in the market, some of which are offering very competitive deals.

Switching suppliers can help you achieve significant bill savings. Ofgem has established that householders can save an average of £158 by switching to the cheapest deal on the market with their current payment method.

It is worth contacting your own energy supplier to find out whether you are on the best tariff for your circumstances. You can then consider switching energy supplier - this can save you money off your fuel bills, particularly if you have been with the same supplier for a number of years.

There are a number of Ofgem approved websites which will guide you through the process from obtaining a quote to changing supplier.

Switching supplier should be a simple process and will take an average of six weeks to take effect - the process should be stress free and your new supplier will guide you through a set procedure. It is always worth remembering to check a new suppliers customer service records as this is also an important factor when changing supplier.

There are a few points to remember:

• Fixed term contracts allow you to pay the same unit rate for your energy for the duration of the contract term. The biggest draw is that you are protected if your energy supplier raises its prices.
• If you are in a fixed term contract there may be an exit fee which may mean any savings from switching are cancelled out unless it is the end of your contract term
• Deals offered with cash back incentives often mean that monthly direct debit payments are slightly higher

If you find that the savings you would make through switching supplier would be minimal, then you could contact your existing supplier to see if they can offer you a better deal - it is worth trying to save this way as a lot of people do find their suppliers can offer better value for money.

Visit Ofgem's approved switching site.

Useful contacts

• Ofgem
• Citizens Advice: Your energy supply
• GOV.UK: Heating benefits
• Energy Saving Trust
• NEA
• Age Concern Tyneside South

If your home or business suffers a burst pipe during winter, you could be left with no water and a large bill to repair the damage to your property.

You need to be careful in winter not to let your pipes freeze, especially if you are going away.

Firstly check that you are insured for burst pipes - if you are uncertain contact your insurer. As well as checking your insurance, take steps to make sure your pipes don't freeze in the first place by following the simple steps below.

Avoiding frozen pipes

• Insulate water tanks and lag pipes
• Pay special attention to unheated areas like lofts and garages
• Check property's regularly that are empty
• Fix dripping taps
• Make sure you know where your stopcock is
• Has your boiler been serviced?
• Minimise drafts from doors and windows
• If you are away, leave the heating on low
• If properties are empty for a long time turn off the stopcock
• Drain outdoor taps and wrap with an outdoor tap jacket
• Don't forget about outbuildings and check water supplies and insulation

What to do if a pipe freezes

• Turn off the water supply
• Check if the pipe has burst
• Open affected tap and slowly thaw with hot water bottles or towel soaked in hot water
• Never go near with a naked flame or blowtorch to thaw pipe

What to do if a pipe bursts 

• Turn off the stopcock and boiler
• Open all taps to drain system
• Call a qualified plumber
• If they're near electrics, switch them off at the mains
• Turn off the taps once the pipe work is repaired to avoid further flooding

Winter pipe shopping list

• Warm jackets - British Standard tank jackets, that come in a a wide range of tank sizes
• Pipe lagging - This comes in 1 meter lengths and is ready-cut down the centre. Choose the right diameter for your pipes.
• Strong tape - Sturdy cloth tape or insulation tape will help cover the joins
• Tape measure - Check how much insulation you'll need to buy
• Sharp scissors - To trim off the excess lagging and help make the joins neat
• Wrap the tape - Your outside tap can be protected with a tap jacket or even a towel