The Welsh Government program will see coupons distributed through the Fuel Bank Foundation. Nearly 120,000 people with prepaid counters will be eligible for around 49,000 vouchers, which will range from £ 30 in the summer months to £ 49 in the winter, with households receiving up to three vouchers over a six-month period. The 4 4 million program will also include a Heat Fund to provide immediate assistance to around 2,000 households across Wales living off the gas network and dependent on heating oil and liquefied petroleum gas. READ MORE: S4C strike deal for Wales games Energy bills have risen dramatically in recent months after the price ceiling was raised and will continue to rise due to market uncertainty. The boss of Ofgem has warned that the cost of heating and electricity is likely to rise to 2. 2,800 for the average household this October. This is from 97 1,971 per year now. You can read it here. Those who have defaulted bills paying by standing order have seen a typical average household energy consumption increase by 3 693 per year, while people with prepaid meters have seen increases of 8 708 per year. Households not connected to the gas grid also suffer, with about one in 10 households dependent on heating oil in Wales. Many have reported that the cost of heating oil has more than doubled in the last two months. A 500 liter delivery that usually costs around 40 340 now costs over £ 750.
Who is eligible?
You must be a prepaid or off-grid customer You must also be in a severe financial crisis, not being able to finance the basic necessities of daily life (including food, rent or mortgage, energy, water, city tax and basic travel). You must be at immediate risk of self-disconnection or have already disconnected or made choices that may cause significant damage to ensure that the action is funded
How to apply
People should apply to the Fuel Bank Foundation. The agency will now spend the next two months preparing the program to support people when the next energy price hike is implemented in October. The bank says it intends to see the agency provide “same-day” assistance to those applying for a coupon, which is a code sent to an individual’s phone, email or post. This code is then transferred to the place where they usually fill in the prepayment counter, where it can be redeemed. A person will have to prove that they do not have credit on their meter or that they will run out very soon before being referred to the Fuel Bank Foundation, which will then carry out additional validation. The new system will not be implemented immediately and while it is being implemented, Single Advisory Fund providers are advised to speak out in case of difficulty or to consider the Welsh Government Discretionary Assistance Fund.
When will they be available?
Social Justice Secretary Jane Hutt said the data showed that people with prepayment counters in North Wales had seen rising flat rates, with costs rising by 102% while in South Wales by 94% – the fourth highest in Britain. He said: “The cost of living crisis is having a devastating effect on people in Wales. Today, almost half of households in Wales are at risk of falling into fuel poverty. This is deeply shocking. We are investing an extra £ 4m in the Fuel Bank Foundation to develop a national program. covering all of Wales and supporting people in greatest need. “This extra help is for people with prepaid meters and for those who do not have gas or electricity – both of which were ignored by the Chancellor in his latest package.” Matthew Cole, head of the Fuel Bank Foundation, said: “We are very grateful for the support from the Welsh government, especially at a time when people are really struggling to cope with the cost of living crisis and rapid energy bills. “The funding will enable the Fuel Bank Foundation to continue to provide vital services to the most vulnerable in society, to ensure that they do not catch a cold or starve this winter when they cannot afford to replenish gas and / or the prepayment electricity. meter. This support will also be extended to off-grid households that rely on solid fuels such as oil, wood or coal to heat and power their homes. In addition, it will allow us to expand our operations and capabilities throughout Wales, with a fuel bank center in each local authority, which will be open in the fall, when the weather starts to get colder. ” To receive more news like this directly in your inbox, subscribe to the Wales Matters newsletters here. Read more related articles Read more related articles
