There are lots of other sources of help and advice out there, to help keep you safe, warm and well this winter. We’ve listed some of the most useful ones here.
Citizens Advice
The Citizens Advice service helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free, independent and confidential advice, and by influencing policymakers. The Citizens Advice service aims:
- To provide the advice people need for the problems they face.
- To improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives.
The service provides free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities. There are 394 Citizens Advice Bureaux across England and Wales and all are registered charities. Citizens Advice itself is also a registered charity, as well as being the membership organisation for bureaux. Together they make up the Citizens Advice service.
Visit www.adviceguide.org.uk for practical, reliable information. Advice by phone is available from all Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB).
Home Heat Helpline
The Home Heat Helpline is a one-stop shop for help and advice if you’re struggling to pay your fuel bills. The advisers can tell you how to reduce the energy you’re using, as well as information about grants, benefits and payments schemes that you could be eligible for. To speak to someone who can help, call for free on 0800 33 66 99†.
Gas Safe Register
The Gas Safe Register is the new name for CORGI, the organisation that makes sure that gas appliances and the people who work with them are safe to use in your home. Anyone who comes to your house to install or service a gas appliance has to be on the Register – it’s the law. Make sure they show you their ID. The organisation also has advice on how to check your appliances are safe. For more information, call 0800 408 5500.
Energy Savings Trust
The Energy Savings Trust works to encourage households and businesses to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions, by becoming more energy efficient. It has loads of information about how to save energy, save water and reduce the amount of waste you create. It’s an impartial body, and with teams based across the UK, it can offered tailored help for you as well. To find out how they can help you, call 0800 512 012.
Pensions information
If you want to find out anything about your state pension, you can do so on the Directgov website. There’s information about how to claim your pensions, changes to retirement ages, how to get a pension credit if you’re eligible and where your local pension office is. For more information, call 0845 606 0265.
Government’s Winter Fuel Payments
You may be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment to help keep you warm during the winter. You may be eligible if you have reached the qualifying age (for the Winter Fuel Payment for Winter 2011/12 you must be born on or before 5 January 1951 and you normally live in Great Britain or Northern Ireland on any day in the week of 19–25 September 2011. It can be anything between £100 and £300. The section on the Directgov website will tell how much you can get, and how to apply. To find out more, call 0845 915 1515.
NHS Direct
If you can’t get to your doctor you can still get health information and advice from NHS Direct. Visit the website, or call 0845 4647.