Cash support to help pensioners with fuel costs this winter
Salford City Council has agreed a new local scheme to support people of pensionable age by providing a one-off £200 towards heating bills over this winter period.
This one-off payment is aimed at Salford residents of pensionable age who receive support under the Council Tax Reduction (CTR) scheme for pensioners but are not in receipt of pension credits.
Everyone who is eligible will be receiving a letter directly from the City Mayor and the Statutory Deputy City Mayor. To find out more, including how to apply visit the Winter Support Payment webpage.
The winter support scheme uses funding from the council’s Cost of Living Investment fund and links to existing wider support available through the Household Support Fund, Salford Assist and Welfare Rights and Debt Advice team.
Any amount of Pension Credit can allow people to receive benefits such as: winter fuel payment, warm homes discount, free TV licence if aged over 75 and more housing benefit and council tax reduction.
Payments for Pension Credit can be backdated a maximum of three months or to when a person became eligible, whichever is closest.
Claims can be made by phone or online, and a family or a trusted friend can help.
There is also support to apply for Pension Credit:
- If older people need more support or don’t know someone who can help them, they can call the Pension Credit claims phone line: 0800 99 1234 or textphone: 0800 169 0133.
- Relay UK offers help to people with hearing and speech difficulties with communicating with anyone over the phone at: Dial 18001 then 0800 99 1234.
- British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service offers support for those who have a computer
- Find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet
- Pension credits claims can be made online
- If someone can’t claim by phone or online, or they need extra support or confidential advice about pension aged benefits including Pension Credit, they should call the Welfare Rights Advice Line, which is available: Monday to Friday, 10am to 12noon on 0800 345 7375.
- Referrals to the Welfare Rights and Debt Advice Service can be made online.
- Salford Unemployed and Community Resource Centre offers support to check whether people of pension age qualify for Pension Credit. To book an appointment for a Pension Credit check call: 0161 789 2999.
- Salford Citizens Advice also provide free, confidential and impartial advice to residents of Salford. Call free on 0808 278 7802 between 9am and 4pm Monday to Friday or 0161 850 5053 6pm to 9pm every day.