Welsh Government has made available over £90 million through a Fuel Support Scheme, which is available until 28th February 2023.
Eligible households can claim a one-off £200 payment. The money is to provide support towards paying winter fuel bills and will be paid directly into your bank account.
This payment is in addition to the winter fuel payment offered by the UK Government. The payment will be available to all eligible households however they pay for their fuel, whether that is, for example, on a pre-payment meter, by direct debit or by paying a bill quarterly and regardless of whether they are using on or off-grid fuel.
Who can apply?
The scheme will be open to households where an applicant, or their partner is in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits at any time between 1 September 2022 and 31st January 2023. View the full Welsh Government guidance.
Qualifying benefits:
- Income Support
- Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
- Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
- Universal Credit
- Working Tax Credits
- Child Tax Credits
- Pension Credit
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Attendance Allowance
- Carers Allowance*
- Contributory Based/New Style Jobseekers Allowance
- Contributory Based/New Style Employment and Support Allowance
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- War Pension Mobility Supplement
Receipt of Carers Allowance includes those people who are being paid Carers Allowance and people who have claimed Carers Allowance but due to the overlapping benefit rules do not receive it as a cash benefit, for example they have an underlying entitlement to Carers Allowance.
Apply for Winter Fuel Support
How and when can I expect payment?
Update - 27th October 2022
In the first month of the scheme the Council has paid over £4.5M from this scheme, with a payment of £200 to almost 23,000 households in RCT. The latest payments were made on 26th October and will arrive in bank accounts on Friday 28th October. If you have been paid £200, you will also have received an e-mail confirming your payment.
The Council is also working through a further 3,500 applications which it has received over the past few weeks. If you have made an application, PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE COUNCIL TO ENQUIRE ABOUT THE STATUS OF YOUR CASE. The Council is working as quickly as it can to review all cases and once a decision is made you will be notified by e-mail. The more contact the Council receives about applications the longer it will take to make payments.
Households in receipt of help with their Council Tax through the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) will receive letters with instructions on how to register securely for a payment.
Households in receipt of one of the other qualifying benefits but who don’t receive help with their Council Tax through the Council Tax Reduction Scheme can apply via the online form.