Pensioners Energy Allowances

[BJS]

I have heard through several peole that energy providers are to give OAP's with £120.00 allowance towards their bills. This I understand to be an additon to the current winter fuel allowance granted by government. I have attempted to search for this info on the net with no success. Thanks for any info in advance.

[factor-fiction]

Just look on the websites of any of the big 6 suppliers

[factor-fiction]

http://www.electricit...energy-rebate-scheme/

[factor-fiction]

http://www.direct.gov...nRetirement/DG_185940

[Buenchico]

Start here:
http://www.direct.gov...nRetirement/DG_185940

[Buenchico]

I must learn to post quicker!

[factor-fiction]

http://www.britishgas...ntials-programme.html

Other suppliers are available.

[starone]

I'm not in receipt of benefits and so I am not eligible, even though I am 84. Still I think I am lucky because I am not dependent on benefits like some poor old things.

[deggers316]

starbuck you will get or have been getting £250 winter fuel allowance every year ,it has nothing to do with how much cash you have even mick jagger gets its

[craft1948]

£200 deggers...............and £300 if over 80.

[hc4361]

It has been £250 though

[pastafreak]

The government-in its wisdom-announced a return back to the original £200 last Budget...the £250 was a temporary amount. Nice they did it after the coldest winter on record.

[welshlibranr]

yes pasta................typical of them!....make the rich richer, and the poor even poorer!....always ben the conservative way!........

[ladybirder]

When Gordon Brown raised it to £250 he said it was only temporary so Labour would have reduced it as well.

[craft1948]

Sorry welsh the one person who made me poorer was Gordon Brown when he pillaged the pension schemes...............

[welshlibranr]

craft, yes I know!...........did the same to me too...............

[hc4361]

welshi, even the very richest of pensioners get the Winter Fuel Allowance.

[pastafreak]

I think it's sinful that it was reduced for the over 80's. If we have another bad winter,£200...or the £300 that the over 80's get will not go far.

[factor-fiction]

Even at £200 it's £200 more than thos under 60 will get.
I think all these different allowances, including the latest initiative to reduce bills for people on pension credit, distort the market and the latter just pushes up the costs for other users.
The energy suppliers need a much tighter form of regulation based on making tariffs much clearer. They deliberately use obfuscation to make it very difficult to work out bills and compare prices. They should also be forced to get rid of cancellation fees which tie you into a supplier.

[pastafreak]

The Fuel allowance is for those over 60 as it is assumed that they are the least able to afford huge bills. This is based on most over-60's being on low,fixed incomes. Also-the elderly are less able to cope well with temperature extremes,so it is important that they can keep their homes warm.
The ability to better compare prices would be good for all of us-but it will not make paying the eventual bills any easier.