
£6 million paid to help Glasgow residents with heating bills
Social Security Scotland paid a total of £6,227,000 to more than 87,340 people across the city to help with their heating bills in 2024/2025.
Winter Heating Payment is paid automatically to those who receive certain low-income benefits, including households with young children, disabled people, or older people.
Read more: Glasgow charity helping pupils from different faiths work together
The payment replaced the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) Cold Weather Payment in Scotland.
Winter Heating Payment is a guaranteed payment that everyone who is eligible receives, regardless of the weather.
For 2024/2025, a total of 81,655 Winter Heating Payments, worth £4,797,000, were made.
As well as 5,685 Child Winter Heating Payments, worth £1,430,000.
The figures, taken from statistics released on April 29, show that 95 per cent of Winter Heating Payments were made by last December and 93 per cent of Child Winter Heating Payments were made by last October.
Read more: Plan to dispose of Glasgow City Council building sparks fear over 'loss'
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: "We have issued over 505,100 payments to families on low incomes, and those supporting children or young people with a disability, to help with the cost of heating their homes.
"Many people are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and higher energy bills.
"The importance of these payments was brought home to everyone this month with the Energy Price Cap rising by 6.4 per cent.
"Ofgem estimates that this will add £9.25 a month to the typical household's energy bill.
"This year we will also be providing extra support to pensioners.
"While the DWP's Winter Fuel Payment will only be available to some pensioners, Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will provide money to every pensioner household in the country.
"The Scottish Government will continue to protect pensioners and people on low incomes in Scotland."
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Daily Record
6 hours ago
- Daily Record
New way for older people to claim Attendance Allowance payments from DWP
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For anyone considering making a new application this month, updated guidance on now states that the new online service will only accept a 'limited number of applications each week'. It's important to be aware that you cannot apply online using a mobile phone or tablet, it must be a desktop or laptop computer. People can also apply through the post by either printing and submitting the Attendance Allowance claim form on here, or by contacting the helpline on 0800 731 0122 to request one. For those applying by post, the DWP recently updated the guidance to remind claimants not to 'write anything except the Freepost address on the envelope' - they also said it does not need a postcode or a stamp. Commenting on the online application process, a DWP spokesperson said: 'We are temporarily testing a new online service to make claiming Attendance Allowance easier and to improve accessibility. While the online service is not yet widely available, no-one will miss out on the benefit as claimants can still apply in the usual way by post." It's important for people living in Scotland to be aware that Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP) has now replaced all new claims for Attendance Allowance. Payments are eligibility are the same, but the devolved benefit is delivered by Social Security Scotland and not DWP - full details on here. Attendance Allowance and PADP are worth either £73.90 (lower rate) or £110.40 (higher rate) each week and as the benefit is usually paid every four weeks, this amounts to either £295.60 or £441.60 every pay period - some £5,740.80 over the 2025/26 financial year. How much someone receives depends on the level of support needed and the benefit is designed to help people of State Pension age with daily living expenses which can also help them stay independent in their own home for longer. It's important to be aware there is no mobility component attached to Attendance Allowance or PADP. Main health condition and number of claimants across Great Britain It's important to note that this list is not a checklist for claiming Attendance Allowance, it is intended to help people understand what type of conditions are being supported. However, if you need extra support during the day or night due to a long-term illness, disability or health condition, you should check out the official eligibility guidance for Attendance Allowance on the website here. 10 most-claimed Attendance Allowance health conditions: Arthritis - 483,376 clamants Dementia - 173,179 claimants Heart Disease - 124,528 claimants Respiratory Conditions - 104,098 claimants Disease Of The Muscles, Bones or Joints - 86,319 Cerebrovascular Disease - 74,716 Back Pain - 74,804 Visual Disorders and Diseases - 50,993 Parkinson's - 44,440 claimants Neurological Conditions - 35,597 claimants Below is everything you need to know about Attendance Allowance including the main health conditions being claimed, eligibility and how to make a claim. Full details on claiming PADP can be found here. What is Attendance Allowance? Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you have a physical or mental disability or illness severe enough that makes it hard for you to look after yourself - it does not cover mobility needs. You do not need to have someone caring for you in order to make a claim. Who can claim? You should apply for Attendance Allowance if you have a disability or illness and need help or supervision throughout the day or at times during the night -even if you don't currently get that help. This might include: Help with your personal care - for example getting dressed, eating or drinking, getting in and out of bed, bathing or showering and going to the toilet Help to stay safe You should also apply if you have difficulties with personal tasks, for example if they take you a long time, you experience pain or you need physical help, like a chair to lean on. Attendance Allowance isn't just for people with a physical disability or illness. You should also claim if you need help or supervision throughout the day or night and have: a mental health condition learning difficulties a sensory condition - if you are deaf or visually impaired How much could I get on Attendance Allowance? You could receive either £73.90 (lower rate) or £110.40 (higher rate) each week. This amounts to either £295.60 or £441.60 every pay period. You can spend the money however you like and it could help you stay independent in your own home for longer. This might include: paying for taxis helping towards bills paying for a cleaner or gardener Can I claim Attendance Allowance even if I have savings and other income? Yes. Attendance Allowance isn't means-tested so it doesn't matter what other money you have coming in or how much you have in savings either - there's no limit. it is also tax-free and you will be exempt from the Benefit Cap so you won't have money taken away from any other benefits. Will Attendance Allowance affect my State Pension? No, it won't affect your State Pension and you can even claim it if you're still working and earning money. How does Attendance Allowance affect other benefits? The other benefits you get might increase if you get Attendance Allowance, these include: Extra Pension Credit Housing Benefit Reduction Council Tax Reduction How do I make a claim? You will need to complete a long claim form when you apply for Attendance Allowance. It might seem daunting at first but help is available from your nearest Citizens Advice, so don't let the form put you off applying. If you'd prefer to do it yourself you can follow the Citizens Advice guide on how to fill in your claim form here. Full details of how to get the application form by post or over the phone can be found on the website here. What happens if I am about to reach State Pension age? If you are thinking about applying for Attendance Allowance when you reach State Pension age, you might be better off claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) straight away - you may be able to get more money. Who cannot claim Attendance Allowance? You cannot claim Attendance Allowance if you are over State Pension age and live in Scotland. You need to claim PADP instead, find out more here. You won't be able to get Attendance Allowance if you already get PIP or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to pay for your care. If you apply for Attendance Allowance while getting DLA, the DWP will usually reassess your DLA award instead. You can renew your PIP or DLA when the existing award ends as long as you still meet the eligibility criteria. If your renewal is unsuccessful you can apply for Attendance Allowance instead. here.


Daily Record
12 hours ago
- Daily Record
Older people on Attendance Allowance, PIP or ADP may be due an extra £331 every month
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Similarly, a couple claiming Pension Credit where one person is claiming a disability benefit, will also receive an extra £82.90 each week and if someone is paid Carer's Allowance they may be entitled to extra weekly Pension Credit of £46.40. Older people may also get this extra Pension Credit if they are entitled to Carer's Allowance but are not being paid it, or being paid it at a lower amount than normal, because they are being paid a higher amount by another, income-related benefit such as the State Pension - more commonly referred to as an 'underlying entitlement'. Nearly 1.4 million older people across Great Britain, including more than 125,000 living in Scotland, are currently receiving Pension Credit, which the DWP recently confirmed could provide an average of £4,300 in support during the year ahead. However, the latest figures from the DWP suggest there are still 7600,000 eligible pensioners not claiming the benefit they are entitled to. Some older people think because they have savings or own their home they would not be eligible for the means-tested benefit, which can also provide access to help with housing costs, heating bills and Council Tax. Pension Credit tops up weekly income to a guaranteed minimum level of £227.10 a week for single pensioners or £346.60 for couples. It is a tax-free payment for those who: have reached Pension Credit qualifying age, which is State Pension age, and live in Great Britain Quickest way to check eligibility for Pension Credit Older people, or friends and family, can quickly check their eligibility and get an estimate of what they may receive by using the online Pension Credit calculator on here. Alternatively, pensioners can contact the Pension Credit helpline directly to make a claim on 0800 99 1234 - lines are currently open 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Expert help and advice is also available from: Independent Age Income Max Citizen's Advice Age UK Pension Credit in a nutshell Pension Credit gives people extra money to help with their living costs if they are over State Pension age and on a low income. It can also provide access to a range of other benefits. The benefit tops up income to a minimum of £227.10 per week for single pensioners and £346.60 for couples - more if a person has a disability or caring responsibilities. Other help if you get Pension Credit If you qualify for Pension Credit you can also get other help, such as: Housing Benefit if you rent the property you live in Support for Mortgage Interest if you own the property you live in Council Tax discount Free TV licence if you are aged 75 or over Help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments Help with your heating costs through the Warm Home Discount Scheme and Winter Fuel Payment A discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you are moving house Mixed aged older couples and Pension Credit In May 2019, the law changed so a 'mixed age couple' - a couple where one partner is of State Pension age and the other is under it - are considered to be a 'working age' couple when checking entitlement to means-tested benefits. This means they cannot claim Pension Credit or pension age Housing Benefit until they are both State Pension age. Before this DWP change, a mixed age couple could be eligible to claim the more generous State Pension age benefits when just one of them reached State Pension age. How to use the Pension Credit calculator To use the calculator on you will need details of: earnings, benefits and pensions savings and investments You'll need the same details for your partner if you have one. You will be presented by a series of questions with multiple choice answer options. This includes: Your date of birth Your residential status Where in the UK you live Whether you are registered blind Which benefits you currently receive How much you receive each week for any benefits you get Whether someone is paid Carer's Allowance to look after you How much you get each week from pensions - State Pension, private and work pensions Any employment earnings Any savings, investments or bonds you have Once you have answered these questions, a summary screen shows your responses, allowing you to go back and change any answers before submitting. The Pension Credit calculator then displays how much benefit you could receive each week. All you have to do then is follow the link to the application page to find out exactly what you will get from the DWP, including access to other financial support. There's also an option to print off the answers you give using the calculator tool to help you complete the application form quicker without having to look out the same details again. Try the Pension Credit Calculator for yourself or your family member to make sure you're receiving all the financial support you are entitled to claim. Who cannot use the Pension Credit calculator? You cannot use the calculator if you or your partner: are deferring your State Pension own more than one property are self employed have housing costs (such as service charges or Crown Tenant rent) which are neither mortgage repayments nor rent covered by Housing Benefit How to make a claim You can start your application up to four months before you reach State Pension age. You can claim any time after you reach State Pension age but your claim can only be backdated for three months. This means you can get up to three months of Pension Credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that time. your National Insurance number information about your income, savings and investments your bank account details, if you're applying by phone or by post If you're backdating your claim, you'll need details of your income, savings and investments on the date you want your claim to start. Apply online You can use the online service if: you have already claimed your State Pension there are no children or young people included in your claim To check your entitlement, phone the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 99 1234 or use the Pension Credit calculator here to find out how much you could get.


The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
Thousands to be left without HOT WATER due to energy meter switch-off
THOUSANDS of households are at risk of being left without heating and hot water in weeks due to a shortage of smart meter appointments. Homes with electricity meters that use the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) need to upgrade to a smart meter before June 30 - when the service is being switched off. 1 Some RTS meters automatically turn the heating and hot water system on and off at different times during the day. This means that once the signal is switched off households could find that these systems do not work properly. They could also end up running their heating permanently during peak time, which could cause huge bill hikes. But a shortage of smart meter appointments means that thousands of households will not be able to make the switch before this deadline. None of the major energy suppliers or industry regulator Ofgem were able to tell us how long customers could expect to wait for a smart meter appointment. More than 100,000 RTS meters are still in use, according to Energy Action Scotland. But the meters are only being replaced at a rate of around 1,000 a day, according to industry regulator Ofgem. As a result, some customers are being offered meter replacement dates well after the deadline. An Ofgem spokesperson said: "Suppliers need to do more and ensure customers are protected from detriment, which is why industry is putting in place a phased area-by-area shutdown beginning from 30 June. "We have made clear that the signal serving a specific area should not be switched off until suppliers have demonstrated that they are ready and able to respond quickly to any issues customers experience. From TV to energy... tips to save you money on 7 bills that are going up in April 'While this carefully managed phaseout should reassure customers that they will be protected, it remains crucial that these meters are replaced so I would urge customers to engage with their supplier when offered an appointment – even if it is after the 30 June date.' Forums online are now inundated with energy customers complaining about being unable to secure an appointment. One Ovo customer said he had been trying to upgrade his two RTS meters since October 2024. An engineer visited his home that month and tried to install the meter but there was a signal issue. How do I know if I have an RTS electricity meter? YOU'LL be able to tell if you have a meter that relies on the RTS quite easily. The oldest RTS-powered meters have a switch box labelled "Radio Teleswitch" located next to the physical electricity meter. Others may have the RTS switch box included within the electricity meter as a single box on the wall. If you're unsure about the type of electricity meter in your home - call your supplier as they'll usually have this information on hand. RTS is also sometimes called dynamically teleswitched (DTS). A fortnight ago his appointment was cancelled due to a system issue. He added: 'I tried to re-book an appointment today but all the appointments had gone and there is nothing left before 30th June. 'I was told by the operator that because it is not my fault the meters have not been changed that I would not lose electricity supply - I have little faith in this happening and dread an electric bill after the 30th of June.' Another said their parents are in a similar position. They said: 'My parents are with Utility Warehouse but their electric supply is through Eon Next. Neither of them have contacted them about the RTS switch off.' They added that when they called Utility Warehouse customer services they were unable to speak to anyone. They tried to book an appointment online but every time were told: 'we're not able to provide you with a smart meter right now. Register interest and we'll get in touch when we can.' Another said: 'I am a British Gas 'customer' on a fixed price tariff. Last October BG advised that my electricity meter was one of the soon to be obsolete RTS type. 'I dutifully signed into my account and tried to request a smart meter … no appointments available. "Since then I have regularly tried to request an install … no appointments.' Andrew Bartlett, chief executive of Advice Direct Scotland, said customers are "in the dark" about the RTS switch. He added: "People are being given dates well after the June 30 deadline for the replacement of their RTS meters with a smart meter, even into August. 'Customers are doing the right thing by contacting suppliers to arrange their fitting, only to be given dates more than a month after the deadline. 'We are also aware anecdotally of people being wrongly told that they have nothing to fear as the cut off won't happen until 2028.' How long do I need to wait for an appointment? Ovo Energy Ovo Energy said it has appointments available to install a meter as soon as possible. However, the availability of these appointments may vary depending on where you live. If you are unsure of what to do or are vulnerable then you should contact Ovo as soon as possible so it can ensure you have an appointment booked in. Customers will be able to choose which tariff they switch to and its specialist team will be on hand to help find the most appropriate one. Octopus Energy Octopus Energy said it has contacted every customer it thinks has an RTS meter that may not work effectively after the switch off. It is installing nearly 20,000 meters a week and said it has the capacity to prioritise anyone who thinks they might lose their heating after the switch off. A spokesperson said: 'It's really important that customers with RTS meters get in touch with us - but we also want them not to worry. Our team is working 7 days a week, and we'll do our very best to make sure that no-one is left without power.' said it will prioritise RTS upgrade appointments and has reserved engineers to ensure it has the capacity to deliver these upgrades. It said all RTS customers should not delay. You should book your smart meter upgrade appointment as soon as possible to make sure your heating and hot water continues to run smoothly. How can I improve my chance of getting an appointment? You should regularly check your supplier's website to see if they have released any new slots. Most suppliers will only let you book an appointment in the next six weeks. You can also ask your supplier how often they release new slots and on which day of the week. For example, Octopus Energy releases new slots on a Monday but you will need to get online early to secure a space. Most suppliers will let you register your interest online so they can notify you when new slots become available. You can do this online through your account. A spokesperson for Energy UK said: "We would only suggest that anyone with an RTS meter contacts their supplier as soon as possible. "Booking a meter replacement appointment now will ensure a smooth change that enables your heating and hot water to continue operating in the same way. "If you are worried that you have an appointment booked after 30 June, this has been taken into account as part of the phase out plan.' Can I keep my RTS tariff? In most cases, RTS customers will be offered a smart meter. The smart meter operates in the same way as an RTS meter on a multi-rate tariff such as Economy 7 or Economy 10. If that is not possible then suppliers must take all reasonable steps to provide a similar tariff, so customers do not see their bills increase. Meanwhile, upgrading an RTS meter to a smart one should give customers access to a wide choice of smart meter only tariffs that should save them money. If your supplier has not contacted you already then you do not need to wait for a letter or email asking you to switch. Get in touch with your supplier directly as soon as you can. What energy bill help is available? There's a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you're struggling to get by. If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter. This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period. If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don't think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal. Several energy firms have schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills. But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances. For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000. British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund. You don't need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund. EDF, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too. Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR). The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill. Some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you're struggling. Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.