ALMOST two in three households will turn down their thermostat this winter to save cash, our reader survey shows.
However financial assistance is available from energy suppliers, charities and the government.
Here, Harriet Cooke reveals how to get help – and officer worker Leanne Ramsdale shares how Octopus Energy came to her rescue.
Emergency cash
If you are really struggling for money, try your local council.
Each authority has its own rules for distributing emergency cash. You can find these online or by giving them a call.
If you live in Wokingham, Berks, for example, you would need to be in receipt of a benefit such as Universal Credit or Disability Living Allowance, or be in debt or use a food bank.
Councils sometimes provide specific items, too.
In Ashford, Kent, families in need of carpets can have them fitted for free, especially in living rooms and children’s bedrooms.
They would need to be referred to the scheme by someone who works in a caring profession, such as a social worker or doctor.
They may also be able to get a new cooker, fridge or washing machine.
There are also help schemes for those falling behind on their rent, if their benefits do not cover it.
To find which local authority you fall under, visit gov.uk/find-local-council.
Benefits and grants
Check you are claiming all the benefits you are entitled to.
Many pensioners qualify for pension credit but are not receiving it, while many eligible parents may be missing out on up to £2,000 a year to help with their childcare.
Use the calculator at benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk to check.
There are also charity grants, which are one-off payments to help families in certain circumstances.
BEAT YOUR BILLS
WE know many were concerned about soaring energy costs BEFORE temperatures plummeted this year.
A new Sun poll of readers found 85 per cent of you are worrying about energy bills this winter.
The Sun has teamed up with Octopus Energy to bring you our ‘Beat Your Bills’ series offering expert tips and advice on the simple measures you can take to keep costs to a minimum.
Our bill-busting series includes simple, cheap DIY tricks and easy swaps to save cash, plus advice if you’re struggling.
Octopus are also giving away an incredible Geely EX5 Max electric car.
Collect codes or download the Sun Savers app or sign up at sunsavers.co.uk for a chance to win.
See what is available at grants-search.turn2us.org.uk.
Citizens Advice can also help direct you to local support services as well as offer advice on money problems.
Energy bills
Winter Fuel Payments, Cold Weather Payments and Warm Home Discounts support those in need, but they should be applied automatically if you qualify.
You can also call up your energy supplier if you are struggling.
Octopus Energy’s Octo Assist scheme provides grants, standing charge holidays and debt write- offs.
Free electric blankets and loans of thermal imaging cameras are also on offer.
Through the E.ON Next Energy Fund, customers can apply to clear debts and also get heated throws and rechargeable foot warmers.
In 2024, EDF cleared £1.5million in customer debt, and nine out of ten of those supported remained debt free for at least 12 months.
Families who claim certain benefits can also get free or cheap boilers. Talk to your energy supplier to see if you qualify.
Prepayment meters
Apply to the Fuel Bank Foundation for help with topping up your prepayment meter.
You will need a referral from your local council or a charity such as a food bank.
The voucher, worth either £30 in summer or £49 in winter, is a code sent to you by letter, text or email which you can redeem at the Post Office or a shop signed up to PayPoint or Payzone.
Check your fuel voucher to see when it expires as you may have to use it within 15 days.
Meals
Struggling with the cost of food? Some charities and apps
are offering it for free.
There are more than 700 “Community Fridges” across the UK, where people donate unwanted food.
Visit hubbub.org.uk/community-fridge-network to find your nearest.
Charity foodcycle.org.uk offers free meals for anyone who needs them.
There is no need to book, just turn up.
Each week, their volunteers transform surplus food into nourishing community meals, served at venues such as social clubs and church halls around England and Wales.
Find your nearest location at their website or call 020 7729 2775.
And you can download the Olio app to collect leftover food from nearby people and businesses.
Warmth
Website warmwelcome.uk has a UK-wide map of more than 5,500 public spaces kept heated for the community, so you can pop in and stay cosy.
These include libraries, community centres, churches, mosques, cafes, sports centres, businesses and museums.
The group behind the project say that 68 per cent of the population live within 30 minutes of a warm space, and they are campaigning to launch more.
Pets
You can get free pet food, cat litter and dog leads from Blue Cross’s rehoming centres in Sheffield, Exeter, Newport and Manchester, as well as its charity shop in Bicester, Oxon.
You don’t need paperwork to access them.
The charity also donates pet food to food banks across the country, in partnership with Pets At Home.
Referrals from a council or charity may be needed.
See bluecross.org.uk/help-and-support/our-pet-food-banks.
Cats Protection works closely with the PDSA to support low-cost neutering for cats through their PetAid hospitals if their owners get a qualifying benefit.
Find out more at pdsa.org.uk.
‘Octopus got me back on track’
Secretary and office worker Leanne Ramsdale, 54, from Nottingham, found invaluable support from energy supplier Octopus while job hunting.
Recently, Octopus has paid £200 towards Leanne’s bills, based on her individual circumstances.
She said: “I’ve had a tough few years. I work for an agency as a temp and am often busier in the summer than in winter, which is when it’s harder to pay my bills.
“I get around £900 a month in Universal Credit, but £550 goes out in rent for my bungalow, which has one bedroom.
“That leaves around £350 a month to cover my bills, including food, water, energy, mobile phone and broadband. It doesn’t leave much.
“My energy bills are about £12 a week for electricity and gas, but at the moment I’m not putting the heating on.
“Octopus have been very understanding, and always come back to me quickly if I need support.
“I like to stand on my own two feet and don’t like asking for help, but it’s
just been a necessity.”
Earlier this year, when Leanne moved to her bungalow and needed to replace her fridge and TV, she was able to skip a couple of months’ payments after speaking to the supplier.
She added: “Octopus were really helpful and just said, ‘Let us know when you’re in a position to contribute again’.
I didn’t get any letters or reminders hassling me during that time.
“I’m very careful and only put the heating on when I need to, and I’m
now nearly back in credit again, thanks to these schemes.
“I’m doing everything I can to get a full-time job. It’s awful being on
Universal Credit – it’s such a struggle all the time.”
5 ways to keep your house warm in winter
Property expert Joshua Houston shared his tips.
1. Curtains
“Windows are a common place for the outside cold to get into your home, this is because of small gaps that can let in air so always close your curtains as soon as it gets dark,” he said.
This simple method gives you an extra layer of warmth as it can provide a kind of “insulation” between your window and curtain.
2. Rugs
“Your floor is another area of your home where heat can be lost and can make your home feel chilly,” he continued. “You might notice on cold days, that your floor is not nice to walk on due to it freezing your feet.
“Add rugs to areas that don’t already have a carpet, this provides a layer of insulation between your bare floor and the room above.”
3. Check your insulation
Check your pipes, loft space, crawlspaces and underneath floorboards.
“Loose-fill insulation is very good for this, and is a more affordable type of insulation, with a big bag being able to be picked up for around £30,” Joshua explained.
4. Keep your internal doors closed
“Household members often gather in one room in the evening, and this is usually either the kitchen or living room,” Joshua said.
“This means you only have to heat a small area of your home, and closing the doors keeps the heat in and the cold out.”
5. Block drafts
Don’t forget to check cat flaps, chimneys and letterboxes, as they can let in cold air if they aren’t secure.
