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Prioritise And Reduce Your Bills

Link to ASKLiON money page

It’s normal to feel pressured into paying the bills which seem the most urgent. But some bills are more important than others. Bills such as council tax, rent, gas, electricity, TV licence and court fines must be paid first.

All the companies which send out bills are expected to deal sympathetically with customers – they can sometimes restructure your payments or hold off chasing payments for 30 days while you talk to an Advice Centre.

Take Action

Talk To Your Suppliers

If they don’t help you, go to an Advice Centre. An Advisor can speak to these companies on your behalf to help agree an affordable plan. Please click on our Help and Advice section for contact details for advice centres and to find local support services.


Budgeting Advance 

You might be able to get a loan as part of your Universal Credit if you need to cover a specific expense - this is called a 'budgeting advance'. Find more information on the citizens advice website. 


Claim The Benefits You Are entitled To

Now more than ever it's important that you are making sure you are getting any benefits you are entitled to, to boost your income! Visit the ASKLiON benefits page for more information.

Energy Or Water Bills Gone Up? Helpful Tips To Bring Costs Down

With a big rise in energy costs expected for millions - it is important to research what support is available to help keep energy costs down.


Energy Company Obligation (ECO 4)

ECO4, has yet to commence, however it applies to measures completed from 1 April 2022 and will cover a four-year period until 31 March 2026. The ECO3 scheme closed on 31 March 2022. Visit Ofgem website for more information. (https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-and-social-schemes/energy-company-obligation-eco)


Green Rewards - For City And County Residents

The Green Rewards App has various activities suggested that can support environmentally sustainable changes. By reporting these activities in the app, users earn points and enter a monthly prize draw to win various vouchers. 

https://notts.greenrewards.co.uk/


Nottingham Energy Partnership

The Nottingham Energy Partnership has a lot of useful advice about switching your energy supplier, help with insulation and boiler schemes.


Energy Savings Trust / NEA

The Energy Savings Trust and NEA also provides a lot of other useful information.


Reduce Water Bills By Reducing Usage

Visit the Save Water Save Money website to order free and reduced cost water saving devices for your kitchen, toilet, bathroom and garden.


GoCompare Interactive Energy Cost Calculator Tool

Ever wondered whether it’s cheaper to run a gas or electric oven? Or how about an electric blanket for 3 hours versus turning the heating on for 30 minutes? Well now you can find out.

GoCompare have developed an interactive energy cost calculator tool to find out how much something costs to run. Use the calculator to pick the appliances you want to compare and select how long they’ll be in use for.

Visit GoCompare Energy Calculator


Government Support Payments

Further support can also be accessed via government support payments below: 

Support Value

Eligibility

Energy Bill Support £400

Most households in England, Scotland and Wales got a £400 discount on their energy bills automatically. If not, please visit gov.uk for more information.

Winter Fuel Payment £200-£300

National annual payment for senior citizens

Warm Homes Discount £150

National annual payment for low income households

Cost of Living payment £900

Up to £900 for people on an eligible low income benefit
£300 for pensioner households
£150 for people on an eligible disability benefit

Household Support Vouchers New supermarket and energy vouchers for the most financially vulnerable people in Nottingham

Worried About Debt? Gas, Electric & Water Provider Schemes

With the cost of living set to rise significantly over the coming months due to increases in food and energy prices, the withdrawal of the Universal Credit uplift and the rise in National Insurance levels later this year, it is likely to be a financially challenging time for many households.

There is some support available to help with the rising costs of energy bills. Most suppliers have funds available that can help pay off debt and sometimes help with your ongoing bills. They'll want details about your circumstances and finances. If you are struggling to pay your energy bills, check your supplier’s website or give them a call.

Some of the available schemes are linked below -

Household Support Fund Vouchers

The council has been again been successful in obtaining £7.1m of funding to support vulnerable households in Nottingham until 31st March 2024 through the new Household Support Fund 4 from the UK Government via the Department for Work and Pensions.

Support for households will be arranged in two periods to balance the available funding across the full year as follows:

  1. Funding Period 1 – 26th June 2023 to 31st October 2023
  2. Funding Period 2 – 1st November 2023 to 31st March 2024.

Residents will be able to apply or may automatically receive funding or support in each of the two funding periods, subject to availability.

The Household Support Fund 4 will be used to provide support to vulnerable residents in the following ways:

  • Free School Meal Vouchers
  • Supermarket Vouchers
  • Energy Vouchers
  • Food Bank Support
  • Social Eating Projects Support
  • Care Leaver Support
  • Asylum / Refugee Support
  • Mobile Food Supermarket Support

To find out more and information on how to apply please click here

Council Tax Rebates, Discounts And Reductions

There are a number of council tax discounts available that can help you to reduce your bills. Please visit the Council Tax Discount page on Nottingham City Council's website for further details.

Support Value

Eligibility

Energy Bill Support £400

Most households in England, Scotland and Wales got a £400 discount on their energy bills automatically. If not, please visit gov.uk for more information.

Winter Fuel Payment £200-£300

National annual payment for senior citizens

Warm Homes Discount £150

National annual payment for low income households

Cost of Living payment

£900

Up to £900 for people on an eligible low income benefit
£300 for pensioner households
£150 for people on an eligible disability benefit

Household Support Vouchers New supermarket and energy vouchers for the most financially vulnerable people in Nottingham

Warm Spaces

Warm Spaces Community Venues

These welcoming spaces at the heart of our communities, offer somewhere for residents to go to keep warm, meet other people, or even an alternative place to work other than their own home. Some of the spaces may also offer refreshments and activities, as well as information on how to reduce bills and access support.

Visit the ASKLiON Warm Spaces Community Venues Page

 

Affordable Warmth

Reduce household expenditure

Not having affordable warmth can occur because the costs of heating a home are higher than average and paying for those costs leave people below the poverty line.

This affects around 15% of households in Nottingham and is one of the top five priorities for Nottingham City Council.

Households on low incomes or in receipt of certain benefits may be eligible for energy bill discounts. Search www.gov.uk for advice on heating and housing benefits, Cold Weather Payments, Winter Fuel Payments and the Warm Home Discount Scheme.

You can talk to the following local organisations for help:


Insulation, Heating, Energy Switching & Energy Advice

Get support and advice on boiler and insulation grants to reduce your fuel bills and stay warm and healthy in your home from NEP’s Healthy Housing Service. Receive free support in the event of an unplanned power cut by registering on the Priority Services Register. For details go to the healthy-housing service webpage or call the team on 0115 985 9057


Free energy saving products and smart meter sessions

For the over 60s, reduce your energy bills with a free home energy check which includes the fitting of energy saving products. Try a Smart Meter session in the comfort of your own home, to find out how a smart meter can help you save money on your gas and electric. Call Age UK Notts on 0115 8599260 or for details visit www.ageuk.org.uk/notts


Cold rented accommodation

Landlords must comply with the latest domestic energy efficiency standards and housing regulations by law. Please contact the customer hub or Safer Housing on 0115 9152020 or SaferHousing@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Worried About Health Costs? NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS)

This is a scheme provided by the NHS - if you have a low income, you may be able to get help with NHS costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS). For further details and for information on how to apply please click here.

Reducing Phone, Broadband And Mobile Charges

Ofcom provides some useful information about how to change your phone, broadband and mobile supplier. The price comparison sites listed have been accredited by Ofcom. Please click here for further details.

Free Energy Efficiency Measures For Homeowners

A new energy efficiency scheme, Connected for Warmth, is offering free cavity wall and loft insulation to households nationwide. If your Council Tax Band is A-D, then you could be eligible. Free Air Source Heat Pumps are also available to households that don’t have a central heating system, if your circumstances make you eligible.

Having these measures installed can help you reduce your energy bills, make your home more comfortable and support the city’s ambition to be carbon neutral by 2028. 

Connected for Warmth is an awarding-winning programme, managed by Agility Eco Services LTd in partnership with Affordable Warmth Solutions and funded by National Grid.

These offers are free for both property owners and landlords. Funding is available on a first come, first served basis.

Find out more and apply now

Connected For Warmth Logo

Free/Reduced Costs Energy Efficiency Measures For Private Rented Properties

Privately rented properties may be eligible for free or reduced cost energy efficiency measures. We’ve put together this information for landlords so they can see what their properties may be eligible for Energy efficiency grants - guidance for landlords (Click to download PDF)

Improved energy efficiency will make your home easier and cheaper to heat and keep warm. Eligibility criteria for the measures usually incudes factors such as household income of tenants, council tax band of the property, the EPC rating of the property, suitability of property for proposed measures and funds are often distributed on a first come, first served basis. Speak to your landlord to see if your circumstances and property type enable your home to be eligible for free or reduced cost energy efficiency measures.

Did you know that the current requirement for landlords to be able to rent out their properties is that the property has to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E or above, unless an exemption applies and is registered. These standards are expected to increase in the future to an EPC C rating. You can find out the EPC rating for your home here www.gov.uk/find-energy-certificate

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