Keep Well This Winter Leaflet
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keep well this winter “I am concerned that the current economic climate on these three main messages by will mean a difficult time ahead for people so I am providing information about the wide very pleased that the Keep Well This Winter campaign range of support that is available. provides information to help everyone in Torfaen”. These include: Lewis Jones, Deputy Leader and Champion for Older • financial help with installing People, Torfaen County Borough Council new heating systems and home With winter almost upon us and insulation escalating food and energy prices • energy efficiency advice rarely out of the news, it’s hardly • help to maximise incomes surprising that many people in Torfaen, especially those who are With the average home’s energy bills older, are viewing the coming months going up by 40% over the past year, with concern, even fear. it is more important than ever that all Torfaen homes, whether privately Shockingly, every winter people owned or rented, are comfortable, in the UK die as a direct result of well-heated and energy efficient. cold weather or as a result of ill health linked to cold, damp living There are a lot of people in this conditions. Older people are area who will be severely hit by the particularly vulnerable, often because increase in fuel prices. they can’t afford to heat their homes Many older people struggle to keep adequately. warm throughout the winter months Keep Well This Winter is an annual sometimes resulting in extreme Welsh Assembly Government measures like staying in bed for long campaign which encourages people periods of the day, or conversely, over 60 to: staying out all day so they don’t need • keep warm to heat their homes. • keep well There are many people, particularly elderly and vulnerable residents, who • and keep safe do not claim money that will help Health Her Challenge Iechyd Local councils and health services them lead much more comfortable Torfaen Torfaen organise their local campaigns based lives. The sad irony is that every year in Wales, The Welsh Assembly Government funds the thousands of pounds worth of benefits Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) are not claimed, with the result that many which provides grants of up to £3,600 for people simply do not have enough money eligible householders in Wales. The scheme Gateway Credit Union to heat their homes and eat properly – and funds improvements designed to make are often forced to choose between the homes in Wales warmer, healthier, more Committed to building our members’ wealth two. comfortable and more energy efficient. • SAFE Savings • NO Hidden Charges or Fees The Keep Well This Winter campaign Home-owners and tenants have been able is trying to change that situation by to have new energy-efficient boilers or • Annual Dividend on Savings • Free Life Savings and Loan Insurance encouraging more people to claim the cavity wall insulation fitted at no cost. You benefits and grants that are theirs by right can contact the HEES on 0800 316 2815 or • Flexible Low Cost Loans • NO Early Repayment Penalties and which, in some cases, are dependent visit their website at Let Gateway Credit Union help you start making the most of your finances today! Membership on age and are not means-tested. www.heeswales.co.uk. is open to everyone who lives or works within Torfaen and Monmouthshire or is an immediate This campaign brings together information Care & Repair Torfaen works in partnership family or household member of anyone who qualifies for membership. from the partners who work together to with the Council and other organisations to We operate throughout Torfaen and Monmouthshire and our friendly staff will assist with any help people improve the housing conditions of older and queries you may have or enroll you as a member. vulnerable disabled people and will arrange Offices located in: • keep warm for repairs and adaptations to be carried • keep well out and help people to access funding from Blaenavon Church View Offices Wednesdays 10am – 1pm sources like HEES. • and keep safe Pontypool 21 Commercial Street Mondays & Fridays 10am – 4pm Care & Repair Torfaen can be contacted on The Council believes that everyone living Pontypool Pod, Woodlands Field, Penygarn Fridays 10am – 12pm 08453 101180. in the borough should enjoy an acceptable Trevethin Communities First Office Tuesdays 9am – 12pm level of warmth in their home and is People are also being encouraged to seek dedicating resources to ensure that older information and advice for housing benefit Cwmbran Powerstation (St. Dials) Tuesdays 10am – 12pm and vulnerable people are being identified and council tax benefits. There is a benefits Cwmbran Cwmbran Library Thursdays 10am – 12pm and helped to claim all the benefits and advice team which works specifically grants that they are entitled to. with people who are receiving social care Alternatively, call us on 01495 750020 or check out our website at www.gatewaycu.co.uk services who can be contacted on 01495 Gateway Credit Union Ltd, 21 Commercial Street, Pontypool, Torfaen, NP4 6JQ The Revenue and Benefits Team organise 762200. annual Welfare and Warmth days at Pontypool and Cwmbran. If you miss these The Council works with other local services, Contact the Citizens Advice Bureau on: events, contact the team on Freephone such as Age Concern Torfaen, Citizens 0800 652 5422. Advice Bureau, Gateway Credit Union Cwmbran Bureau and the Pension Service, to promote The Council’s Energy Manager is working Telephone: 01633 876121 or and provide benefits advice and debt with the SE Wales Energy Advice Service 01633 482464 (Advice Line) management for those who do find and the utility companies to ensure the Email: [email protected] themselves in financial difficulties. best deals are available for the people of Torfaen. The Council has also recruited Duncan Forbes, Chief Executive of Bron Pontypool Bureau an Affordable Warmth Officer who will Afon, said: “During the current economic Torfaen Citizens Telephone: 01495 759814 or climate, and especially with the increase be promoting these deals and provide 01495 757421 (Advice Line) information about heating grants. in fuel bills, we want to give our tenants as Email: [email protected] much help as possible.” Advice Bureau Free, confidential, independent, impartial advice by trained advisors about: Blaenavon Bureau • Benefits • Heating • Grants • Debt and Telephone: 01495 791232 or 01495 792125 (Advice Line) much more...! money, you feel almost guilty, like it’s charity Benefit entitlement check – and yet you’ve paid in for it. We are very You may be eligible if you or your partner are Many people are missing out on Government passive as a nation and reticent about asking for Financial aged 60 or over, or disabled, and receive: money that is rightfully theirs because they are help. I was amazed how much he was eligible for. • Pension Credit unaware of their benefits entitlement. I’ve no worries about my father now, everything • Income Support or income-based One 96-year old Cwmbran man has recently is taken care of.” help to Jobseeker’s Allowance received a substantial amount of back-dated The Council social care services benefits advice Unemployed families with children under five benefits after his social worker identified a team can be contacted on 01495 762200 for those may also be eligible for the payment. discrepancy in his benefit entitlement. people who are in receipt of social care services. keep warm The Home Energy Efficiency Mrs Green explained how her father was able However, if you do not have social care services, to claim three years’ back-dated benefits. The there are other ways of getting help. The Pension Scheme social worker helped the family to complete the Service will visit people in their own homes to paperwork to claim back payment and his claim check out their entitlement to a range of benefits The Welsh Assembly Government-funded this winter was then followed up by the Council’s social care as well as providing advice at Torfaen Customer scheme provides grants of up to £3,600 for services benefits advice team. The unexpected The fear of running up high heating bills Care Centres in Cwmbran and Pontypool eligible householders. There are two levels of lump sum has enabled him to move into new should not stop older people heating their Telephone 0845 60 60 265. the grant: accommodation with a much-needed new homes to an acceptable level of warmth this Age Concern Torfaen provides home visits for wheelchair, furniture and personal items. winter because there is plenty of financial help • HEES (grant of up to £2,000) is for those who cannot get out, and a drop in service available. householders who are pregnant and in “We had no idea that he was eligible for a at their George Street office in Pontypool. Torfaen receipt of a MAT B1 certification or families disability allowance,” Mrs Green said. Mind, Torfaen People’s Centre and Citizens with children under 16 Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) “My father is a very proud man and would never Advice are some of the other services that can help you. This tax-free annual benefit for people over 60 • HEES Plus (grant of up to £3,600) is for claim for anything. Although it’s your is usually paid from November. The amount householders who are 60 and over; lone varies depending on age and personal parents with children under 16 and circumstances but may be up to £400 for people receiving certain sickness or We’ve already received help couples. There is an additional payment disability-related benefits. for winter 2008/09 of £50 for households Qualifying households may be eligible Pontypool “A lot of people are a bit too and is currently paying £91 a with someone aged 60-79 and £100 for for loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, couple, Bernard proud to seek the help they month after her energy bills households with someone aged 80 or over.