Brits urged to 'act now' to save money amid Winter Fuel Payment change

Millions of households are set to miss out on their Winter Fuel Payment meaning it is even more essential to save where they can

With the Winter Fuel Payment scheme undergoing changes this year, concerns are mounting among UK residents about the potential for fuel poverty as the colder months approach. The scheme, which was introduced in 1997 to assist UK pensioners with their heating costs, offered payments between £100 and £300 and was initially available to all.

However, following revisions by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the scheme's eligibility has been narrowed to only include pensioners receiving means-tested benefits, leaving around 10 million individuals without this support.

In light of these developments, Andy Kerr, founder of heating specialists BOXT, is encouraging people across the UK to adopt simple yet effective measures immediately to help cut energy bills this winter.

Among the tips provided is the suggestion to lower your thermostat by one degree, a move that experts claim can significantly reduce energy consumption. "You can significantly reduce your energy usage by lowering the central heating temperature down by just one degree and you will not even be able to feel the change in the room temperature. This small change could reduce your heating expenses by up to 10 percent, meaning that by lowering the thermostat by only one degree, you might save more than £100 a year on energy bills.", reports the Mirror.

Additionally, he advises bleeding your radiators to enhance their performance. Bleeding your radiators can help you to achieve a more efficient and environmentally-friendly home. If there are any cold spots on the radiators while your heating is turned on, it could be caused by air trapped in the system, which leads to a reduction in efficiency.

Smart meters can also help by allowing you to better understand your energy usage via the in-home display that comes with your smart meter. With more information on your day-to-day energy use, you can see when you're using the most energy, and identify ways to cut back and, in turn, save money. Andy explains: "Smart meters can help to eliminate inaccurate bills, as they feed back directly to your energy supplier, therefore you shouldn't get an unexpectedly high bill."

The expert continues: "Using smart technology like the Google Nest Learning Thermostat can help with ensuring you aren't wasting any energy on heating your home, as you can set schedules around your usual routine and lifestyle to make sure your heating is only on when someone will be at home, saving you up to 10% annually on your energy bills."

By becoming familiar with how to operate your thermostat as early as this weekend, Brits could automatically be saving their pennies when the cold weather kicks in.

As well as these top tips, you should also check you have the best boiler type for your home. The best type all comes down to the size of your home, your lifestyle and the number of people living there. The experts suggest that a system boiler may be a better option for larger households who use lots of hot water, however, combi boilers can be more efficient for smaller houses and flats as they only heat water when it's needed.

They also suggest: "If your boiler is over 15 years old, it is worth considering upgrading it. Depending on the efficiency rating of your current boiler and the type of home you live in, you could save almost £500 a year on your energy bills simply by upgrading to a new rated A boiler."

To further enhance your home's warmth retention, experts recommend insulating walls, roofs, and floors as well as your water tank, pipes, and radiators. This can be an easy and cost-effective method to boost efficiency and cut down on energy costs. For instance, fitting a hot water cylinder jacket yourself is straightforward, costing about £15, and can be a step towards immediate energy-saving improvements.

Talking about the recent Winter Fuel Payment changes he expressed concern saying: "To cut government spending, Rachel Reeves made the tough decision to change the eligibility requirements for the Winter Fuel Payments, with only those on Pension Credit now eligible. Alongside this, the Ofgem Price Cap has been confirmed as increasing from £1,568 to £1,717 for the average household from October 1st, leaving more people vulnerable to high energy costs. This means people across the country will be worried about how they will deal with higher bills in the colder months."