Month: February 2024

Are you missing out on Pension Credit? (Join the 1.4 million pensioners already receiving it)

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Did you know that around a third of those eligible for pension credit are not claiming it? So if you, or a friend or loved one have reached State Pension age (66 for men and women) then read on (you could be missing out on extra money each week!)

Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with living costs and can unlock help with other things like council tax (you will need to make a separate application to the council for this), Cold Weather Payments and a free TV licence for people over 75.

You may be eligible for Pension Credit even if you have some savings, receive a small occupational pension or own your own home. It’s also possible that a change in circumstances can make someone newly eligible, for example a bereavement or new caring responsibilities.

Use the Pension Credit Calculator to check how much Pension Credit you might be eligible for.

You can claim online by using the Pension Credit online service or by telephoning 0800 99 1234, if English is not the claimants first language a phone interpreter can be arranged if needed.

Very vulnerable claimants can request the Pension Service’s home-visiting service.

Financial support for households with high energy intensive medical equipment

The Household Support Fund is continuing to support those that are hardest hit by the cost of living crisis.

If you or someone you live with uses specialist medical equipment and have high energy costs due to this, you could be eligible for up to £250 towards your energy bills.

The fund can be used to support children and adults who rely on high energy consuming medical equipment to meet their health needs. The equipment includes ventilators, dialysis machines, oxygen concentrators or feeding pumps.

To apply, individuals can make a self-referral or be referred by a professional body. The funding is available until 31st March 2024. For more information or to apply please visit the Household Support Fund Page.

A piece of medical equipment

Council approves budget and Council Tax for 2024/25

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The proposed budget for 2024/25 was today (9 February) approved at a meeting of full Council.

Like many other councils across the country, Herefordshire Council is facing significant financial challenges. This is mainly because of rising costs due to inflation and the increased demand for both adult and children’s social care services. The budget set today addresses these challenges and includes many positives for the county.

The budget for 2024/25 will be £210.5 million. As part of the efforts to balance the budget it includes total council tax increase of 4.99% (2.99% increase in core council tax and a 2% adult social care precept), along with £19.5million savings and efficiencies across council services.

Highlights of the budget include money allocated for:

  • strategic housing development (£1 million),
  • a cancellation of the planned general parking charge increase (£0.4 million),
  • additional investment in the Leominster Heritage Action Zone (£0.3 million),
  • funding to assist the community and voluntary sector (£0.200 million)
  • funding for Officer support to Parish and Town Councils (£0.056 million),
  • further investment to maintain Library opening hours (£0.055 million)
  • a transfer to the Financial Resilience earmarked reserve (£0.500 million).

Alongside this the additional Rural Services Delivery Grant of £0.945 million will be allocated:

  • to boost funding for the Lengthsman Scheme (£0.250 million),
  • to address the backlog of repairs on the Public Rights of Way Network (£0.250 million)
  • to address drainage issues in rural areas (£0.445 million).

Councillor Jonathan Lester, Leader Herefordshire Council said: “Given the financial position many councils across the country are facing, to be able to pass a balanced budget is a significant achievement. It hasn’t been easy and we’ve had to take some tough decisions, but we’re confident this budget will support the long term prosperity of Herefordshire and its residents.

“During the budget process we have listened to residents, businesses and councillors. As a result we were able to put forward a budget that gained the support of councillors across the political spectrum and which cancels the planned increases in general parking charges and provides further investment for our Lengthsman Scheme, the Public Rights of Way network and drainage on our roads.

“On top of this we will be delivering a £13 million highway improvement plan in the upcoming financial year to help address the poor state of our roads.”

More information can be found in the meeting papers.

First off-gas Herefordshire homes receive energy efficiency upgrades

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County residents are being encouraged to check their eligibility as the first households in Herefordshire are seeing the benefits of the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) scheme.

Continuing high energy prices mean many Herefordshire households are experiencing another cold and expensive winter. Now that HUG funding is being implemented some of those bills will begin to fall over the long term, as their improved energy efficiency makes homes easier to heat and power, and lowers carbon emissions.

The HUG offers home energy efficiency upgrades to householders who:

  • Live in Herefordshire
  • Don’t have mains gas heating in their home
  • Live in an energy-inefficient home (with an EPC rating of D, E, F or G)
  • Have a combined household income below £31,000 per year or are on means-tested benefits.

Successful applicants will receive an expert property survey and the improvements that will make the biggest difference to the efficiency, comfort and cost of powering the property will be installed. They could benefit from a wide-range of energy-saving technologies and receive home improvements worth tens of thousands of pounds. These include insulation, solar panels, high heat retention storage heating, air source heat pumps and many households will be offered more than one upgrade.

The scheme is being delivered through a trusted partnership of Herefordshire Council and Severn Wye Energy Agency.

One Longtown resident had an air source heat pump fitted through the first phase of the Home Upgrade scheme.

They said: “We knew we couldn’t afford heating after renovating the property and heard of grants available. The works were done quickly and efficiently, the plumbers were very friendly and answered any questions we had. We’d absolutely recommend the scheme; it has been a huge cost saving overall not having to pay for a new central heating system.”

Cllr Elissa Swinglehurst, Cabinet Member Environment, said: “The first phase of HUG helped 90 households improve their home energy efficiency, reducing their bills and making it easier to keep their homes warm, and it is pleasing to see the ongoing great work of the second phase of the project.

“Residents can check their eligibility by answering a few simple questions at the government’s new online eligibility checker www.gov.uk/apply-home-upgrade-grant.”