As part of a support package of over £50m to address immediate pressures on living costs Welsh Government has made available over £38 million through a Winter Fuel Support Scheme.
Applications for the Winter fuel support scheme are open until 13th January 2022.
Eligible households can claim a one-off £100 payment to provide support towards paying their on-grid winter fuel bills.
The scheme is open to households where one member is in receipt of working-age means-tested welfare benefits (at any time between the 1 December 2021 and 31 January 2022):
- Income Support, or
- Income Based Job Seekers Allowance, or
- Income Related Employment & Support Allowance, or
- Universal Credit, or
- Working Tax Credits.
The payment will be available to all eligible households regardless of whether they pay for their on-grid fuel on a pre-payment meter, by direct debit, or by paying a bill quarterly.
An eligible household for this scheme is defined below:
| Single person | Couple |
|---|---|
| You apply to the scheme on or before 18 February 2022 | You or your partner apply to the scheme on or before 18 February 2022 |
| You are responsible for paying the on-grid fuel bills at your property | You, your partner, or both of you are responsible for paying the on-grid fuel bills at your property |
You are in receipt of a qualifying working age means-tested welfare benefit at any time between 1 December 2021 and 31 January 2022
|
You, your partner, or both of you are in receipt of a qualifying working age means-tested welfare benefit at any time between 1 December 2021 and 31 January 2022
|
| You have not received a payment under the scheme before | You or your partner have not received a payment under the scheme before |
Individuals who believe they may qualify for this support can Apply for a Winter Fuel Payment from 13 December 2021.
All applications must be received before 18 February 2022. Payments for successful applications will be made from January through to the end of March 2022.
If you are experiencing severe financial hardship you may wish to make a claim to the Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF)