The cost of living vouchers sent to households to help tackle energy bills and rising food prices have been dispatched.
Our new scheme combines the food and energy support into one vouchers and covers the funding period from October through to March. It supports a range of residents including young people, families, and older residents.
We have dispatched all the vouchers but we are aware that there may be some disruption with the delivery service and we are sorry if you receive these vouchers after the Christmas break.
Help with energy costs and utilities
Disability Energy Support Service
The Energy Price Guarantee
Free energy saving home improvements available
The Energy Bills Support Scheme
Warm home discount scheme
DraughtBusters
Energy costs if your benefits stop
Energy scams
Thames Water
Help for Households
Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service have produced a guide to keeping safe this winter, and have more information and advice on their website.
It can be difficult or impossible to switch to a cheaper tariff, so its more important to get the most from the energy you pay for.
Useful information and advice are available from:
Cold weather can make some health problems worse and even lead to serious complications, especially if you are 65 or older, or if you have a long-term health condition.
Below are some links to information on protecting your health from the cold:
If you are worried about your health or that of somebody you know, ring NHS 111.
Scope run a Disability Energy Support Service that’s open to all households across England and Wales in which one or more disabled people live. They provide practical advice and support if you are worried about your energy or water charges.
Service users can also access:
For more information call 0808 801 0828 or visit their website.
National Energy Action charity works to make sure that everyone in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is warm and safe at home. You can contact them on 0800 304 7159 Monday to Friday 10am to 12pm or visit their website.
The government has put a limit on the rates your supplier can charge you for gas and electricity from 1 October 2022 for two years. What you pay will depend on how much energy you actually use, a guide is a typical household with average usage will pay around £2,500 a year for their gas and electricity.
The Energy Price Guarantee will be applied automatically, you do not need to do anything.
This provides a £400 non-repayable discount to eligible households to help with their energy bills over winter 2022 to 2023. You don’t need to do anything to get the money and you won’t have to pay it back.
You’ll get the £400 in 6 instalments starting from October 2022. How you receive the discount depends on how you pay for energy:
Contact your supplier if you can’t see the deduction on your bill or statement, or the refund in your bank account.
More information about the government’s support for the cost of living.
The Warm Home Discount Scheme will open in November 2022. You could get £140 off your electricity bill.
The DraughtBusters draught proofing service is available to people living in energy poverty, families with young children, the elderly and people under debt management. They might be able to help others too if you make contact.
If you’d like to enquire about DraughtBusters helping you draught proof your home, just email ReadingDraughtBusters@gmail.com and they’ll get in touch with you.
If your benefits stop and you need help with energy costs follow these simple steps.
Remember you will need to pay this back to the supplier at a weekly rate so ask how much this will be.
Scammers are using the various support packages from the government to get hold of personal information or bank details.
They do this in many ways. For example, they may pretend to be from the Department for Work and Pensions, an energy provider or Ofgem.
You do not need to apply yourself to receive any financial assistance from the government. All support is applied automatically.
If you receive a call, text or email that you are suspicious about, don’t provide any information.
More advice on dealing with fraud.
Reading Borough Council Trading Standards is responsible for maintaining the fairness of the trading environment in Reading by protecting the interests of consumers and reputable traders.
If you are struggling with your water bill help is available from Thames Water. This includes ways to reduce the charge you pay, applying for help with any arrears you might have or signing up for priority services.
The government have set up a Help for Households website with lots of useful information on: