Energy Bills Support Scheme

Find out about the Energy Bills Support Scheme and how you can get support this winter.

The Energy Bills Support Scheme provides a £400 non-repayable discount to eligible households to help with their energy bills over winter 2022 to 2023.

• Find out if you are eligible

---

Energy Efficiency Ideas & Energy Saving Tips

Saving energy at home isn't just about becoming more energy efficient — it's about learning how you can save money, too.

There are many things you can do to reduce the amount of energy you use in your home. Being energy efficient doesn’t always mean a big change to your routine, it can often take just a few small changes to your lifestyle.

• Find out more: Electrical Safety First

---

Plus Dane - Coping with the Rising Cost of Living

Important costs like gas, electricity, fuel and food are rising steeply. It's a real worry and is affecting many people across the country. We've pulled together some advice, tips and resources to support you.

• Coping with the rising cost of living 

---

Energy Saving Trust

Make your home more energy efficient, reduce your carbon emissions and lower your energy bills.

Home – it’s somewhere you want to feel safe and warm. That involves using energy to heat or cool your property, generate hot water and power all your appliances and devices.

Around 21% of the UK’s carbon emissions come from our homes, as a result.

We want to help you save money on your bills at the same time as reducing your carbon footprint. So, whether that involves being more energy efficient, generating your own renewable energy, switching to a green tariff or insulating your home to keep the heat in.

• Advice and information to help: https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/energy-at-home/

---

Local Energy Advice Partnership (LEAP)

We deliver the Local Energy Advice Partnership (LEAP) in North Lancashire.

LEAP offers low income and vulnerable households free energy and money saving advice, including:

• Free energy efficiency measures, such as LED lightbulbs and radiator panels
• Support to switch to a cheaper energy tariff 
• Help to sign-up for the Warm Home Discount and Priority Services Register
• Advice on simple changes to your habits that can save money
• Benefits check and advice on budgeting and debt
• Referral for grants for larger heating and insulation measures 

LEAP is totally free and available to households of any tenure – homeowners, private tenants and social tenants. The eligibility criteria are very broad and can be found here

Advice and information to help: https://greenrose.org.uk/energy-and-money-saving-advice/

---

WaterSure Scheme

WaterSure is a scheme which helps some people with their water bills. To apply for the scheme, you must be on benefits and need to use a lot of water either for medical reasons or because your household has a certain number of school-age children. You also need to be on a water meter or be waiting to have one installed.

Who qualifies for WaterSure

To qualify for WaterSure you need to:

• be on a water meter or have applied for one and be waiting for it to be installed, or be paying an assessed charge because it's not possible to fit a meter at your property  
• be on certain benefits
• have a high essential use of water

Find out more about WaterSure...

---

Money Saving Expert - How to Save on your Broadband

Some 4.2 million low-income households are eligible for special discounted broadband packages, according to the latest figures released by Ofcom. But the regulator says only 55,000 households have taken them up, with millions (84% of those eligible) missing out on average savings of £144 a year. 

There are six providers - BT, Community Fibre, G.Network, Hyperoptic, KCOM and Virgin Media O2 - that currently offer so-called "social tariffs" to eligible customers on benefits, but the regulator has called on them to do a better job of letting customers know about the lower prices, as well as urging them to make the sign up process as easy as possible.

• Find out about discounted broadband

---

Universal Credit

Universal Credit supports you if you are on a low income or out of work. It includes a monthly payment to help with your living costs. This site will help you understand what Universal Credit means for you. 

If you are currently claiming other benefits why not use an independent benefits calculator to see if you could be better off on Universal Credit? It is important to also get independent advice before you apply. You can find out more about Universal Credit on this site. If you’re ready to make a claim, visit gov.uk/universal-credit/how-to-claim

• Understanding Universal Credit

---

Council Tax support

Council tax support is a local scheme paid by the council to help certain groups of people pay their council tax.

Anyone who has to pay council tax can claim. However council tax support is there to help people on low income to pay their council tax bill. It is assessed by looking at your: 

• household 
• any other adults living with you 
• personal circumstances 
• income

Please note you will not be entitled to council tax support if you have savings of over £16,000 (unless you are in receipt of Guaranteed Pension Credit).

• Find out about Council Tax support

---

National Government Support

This page will stay up to date with all that the Government is doing to support with Energy Bills during the Cost of Living Crisis.

---

Home Energy Grants

Use this page to discover all of the Local and National Energy Grants that are available at the moment.

---

Lancaster City Council - Energy Efficiency Advice 

To help your household stay warm and and for top tips on how you can save money on your energy bills please see the links below.

If you would like to speak to someone directly regarding your energy issues please call us on 01524 582000.