Household Support Fund Phase 3

Support continues into phase 3.

We are pleased to say that the Government Household Support Fund will continue into phase 3 in the New Year. The scheme will still provide payments to eligible Pensioners NOT in receipt of Pension Credit. However, the scheme is to be extended to provide for people with disabilities or a long-term health condition (including those requiring the use of medical equipment which requires increased energy use), of any age, and carers of any age.  

You do not need to be in receipt of a disability benefit or carers allowance to be eligible and you may be eligible for more than 1 payment (if you fit more than 1 criteria). 

Payments are distributed per household not per individual. 

Home Energy Checks

UK housing stock is particularly inefficient and has some of the worst levels of home energy efficiency in Europe; according to Age UK, approximately one in five homes (21%) occupied by older people in England fail the 'decent homes' standards. There is a strong relationship between poor insulation and heating old houses, low indoor temperature and excess winter deaths. Many older or vulnerable people live in old properties that are cold, damp and draughty. Those who rent privately depend on landlords to invest in large scale work, such as insulation. Similarly, older home-owners and those in large family homes with unoccupied rooms often find themselves unable to afford maintenance of heating systems and overall building condition. The cost-of-living crisis and increase in energy bills will make this situation worse. 

What can we do?

We will, therefore, in Partnership with other Age UKs, undertake home energy checks, targeting the most vulnerable to:

• Assess the built environment (heating system, insulation, damp, state of repair, connection to mains heating supply and more)
• The impact that cold weather is or will have on medical conditions or general health and wellbeing
• Assess how confident residents are about saving energy and keeping warm
• Give advice about the above and about support that is available
• Make referrals to agencies for further assistance
• Install energy saving devices and other items to assist people I'm keeping warm