In the news: Support for pensioners still available as Warm Home Guarantee continues

Basildon Council is proud to support pensioners this Winter through the Warm Home Guarantee - a proactive campaign to support pensioners during the colder months. As part of this initiative, the council has allocated an initial £100,000 to help 1,000 pensioner households with a one-off £100 grant to ease their energy bills this winter.

Since the launch on Monday 9 September, Basildon Council has paid £11,200 to 112 pensioners in the borough. The council has visited all 47 council-owned sheltered schemes, three community centres, and has also reached pensioners at local libraries and via the Outreach bus, ensuring all pensioners across the borough are aware of the support available.

As part of the initiative, hundreds of additional residents have been supported to apply for Pension Credit or advised of additional support through Housing benefit, Council tax support, Discretionary housing payments and the Fuel poverty helpline.

Basildon Council is calling on the entire community to get involved and help ensure pensioners have access to these vital services. With more than £80,000 still available, together, we can make sure no one is left out in the cold this winter.

Councillor Gavin Callaghan, Leader of Basildon Council, said: "I'm proud of the action we've taken in Basildon to enable vulnerable pensioners to keep their homes warm this winter. It's vital that everyone in the community - especially if you have a friend, family member or neighbour who you think might be eligible for funding - hears about our Warm Home Guarantee."

"We've made good progress but I want all of this funding used to help people before the weather turns. There are still hundreds of pensioners who could be entitled to the full Winter Fuel Allowance this winter but aren't enrolled in the scheme. I'm calling on everyone in the borough to make sure no-one who might be eligible goes without this winter." 

The Triage Form, a simple tool available on the council's website, helps assess eligibility for winter fuel support and hardship payments. Families, friends and neighbours are encouraged to help pensioners complete this form. 

For more information on the Warm Home Guarantee and to access the Triage Form, visit our website.

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Published 23 October 2024