Final call for energy bills help

Nearly all energy companies have made double-digit price rises

The deadline for over-60s yet to claim their Winter Fuel Payment, aimed at helping with energy costs, is looming.

Pensions Minister Mike O'Brien has urged older people to get their claim forms in the post by Friday, March 28. Everyone aged over 60 is entitled to £200 and the over-80s get £300, with 12 million people expected to benefit.

Chancellor Alistair Darling announced that the payment will rise in the coming winter by £50 for the over-60s, and £100 for the over-80s.

Automatic payment

The vast majority of people received their 2007/08 payments before Christmas.

Anyone who had claimed before, and whose circumstances had not changed, and those who receive a state pension and certain social security benefits, would have automatically received the payment.

But some people who are entitled to the benefit still slip through the net, although The Pensions Service offers help in completing forms.

Anyone aged over 60 on or before 23 September 2007 qualifies for the £200 payment.

Rising costs

Mr O'Brien said: "Following recent increases in fuel costs, it is more important than ever that older people claim all the help they are entitled to."

The Winter Fuel Payment will rise later this year

Customers of the big six energy customers - British Gas, Npower, EDF, Scottish Power, Scottish and Southern Energy, and E.On - have been facing double-digit percentage rises in bills since the start of the year.

Scottish and Southern Energy is the latest to raise prices, with increases of an average of 14.2% for electricity and 15.8% for gas coming into effect on 1 April.

Mr Darling said when delivering his Budget that pensioners were "facing pressure" over energy bills and announced the increase in payments for 2008/09.

But Age Concern said the rise was insufficient, claiming that 2.25 million older people were in fuel poverty - having to spend more than a tenth of their income on fuel.

The helpline number for Winter Fuel Payment claims is 08459 151515.