Brits urged to apply for Warm Front energy funding
The Government’s flagship scheme to help the poorest households in England make their homes warmer and cut energy bills is set for up to a £30 million underspend this year, two leading consumer groups are warning.
According to Consumer Focus and National Energy Action, many pensioners, families and people with long term health problems will miss out on help as an estimated £143 million of Warm Front scheme funding is expected to go unclaimed.
This money could help up to 16,000 households struggling to afford their energy bills to cut their costs by a potential £650 per year.
Warm Front has seen a dramatic decline in applications for help this year. In April to December 2011 less than 40,000 people applied for a grant compared with more than 130,000 applications in the same period in 2010.
Consumer Focus and National Energy Action are urging people to put in a claim now before the funding for this year ends on March 31.
Audrey Gallacher, director of energy at Consumer Focus, said: “It is very disappointing that people who need Warm Front help to make their homes warmer and cheaper to heat are likely to miss out.”
Full details of who can claim Warm Front help and how to apply are available on Directgov. People can apply for the scheme online, by post, or by phone on 0800 316 6004.
