ENERGY bills for the average home are expected to soar by £400 next year due to the gas supply crisis.
It means a household with typical energy use would have to fork out about £1,660 a year.
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If you are concerned about how you will afford the price increase, there are benefits and discounts available.
CHECK BENEFITS: The first thing to do if you are state pension age is find out if you can get pension credit. This tops up your income to £177.10 a week if you are single or £270.30 for a couple. More than a million pensioners are eligible but miss out.
Saving: An average £58 a week
WARM HOME DISCOUNT: Get £140 off your electricity bill if you are on guaranteed pension credit or on a low income and get certain benefits. It depends on your supplier’s criteria so contact the energy provider if you think you may be eligible. The money is taken off your bill between October and March.
Saving: £140 a year
WINTER FUEL PAYMENTS: Pensioners get annual winter fuel payments of between £100 and £300. How much you get depends on your circumstances. If you are 80 and live alone, you get £300, younger single pensioners get £200 and couples £100. Most payments are made automatically in November or December.
Saving: £100 to £300
COLD WEATHER PAYMENTS: If the temperature drops below zero in your area for seven days, you could get £25 if you are on certain benefits, such as pension credit, income support or Jobseeker’s Allowance.
But it depends on your circumstances. It should come automatically but if not, contact Jobcentre Plus or your pension centre.
Saving: £25 per cold snap
GRANTS: Customers in debt to their energy supplier can get help to pay it off.
British Gas, for example, offers support to people with savings of less than £1,000 who have recently received help from a money advice agency. The average grant awarded by British Gas Energy Trust in the last year was £778.
Saving: £778
- Prices correct at time of going to press. Deals subject to availability.
Deal of the day
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THIS is handy for all those Christmas presents – Robert Dyas has reduced packs of 26 AA and AAA batteries to £8.99 from £15.99.
SAVE: £7
Cheap treat
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TESCO has a £2.50 Clubcard half-price deal on Aero Christmas selection boxes, down from £5.
SAVE: £2.50
Bargain getaways
VILLAGE Hotels is offering £59-a-night breaks including £40 to spend on food at the pub and grill if you stay on Sunday night.
The Super Sundays offer includes two people sharing a double or twin room and must be taken by December 30. See village-hotels.co.uk.
Top swap
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DO your feet need a comfort boost? Invest in these Ted Baker Lopply sliders for £45. Or swap them for Dunelm’s grey cross sliders for £6.
SAVE: £39
Savers’ little helper
SIGN up to new loyalty club Planet BrewDog to get a free carbon-neutral lager from a BrewDog bar.
Redeem the offer in your account and you will get a QR code to show bar staff.
Claim it and there is also £10 to spend at BrewDog’s online store if you join and complete a survey. See brewdog.com.
Shop & save
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ASDA is offering a three-for- £5 deal on £2 packs of tapas, including chicken and chorizo empanadas and spinach and feta parcels.
SAVE: £1
Hot right now
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Argos has 20 per cent off Harry Potter Lego sets.
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Martin Lewis explains how millions on benefits could get ‘free money’ to insulate homes
