Lost your winter fuel payment? Discover easy ways you can save more than £300 on heating bills this year

Millions of pensioners will miss out on money towards their heating costs this winter, but there are ways to cut your energy costs.

Many pensioners face a painful combination of losing financial support and rising prices.

The government has announced that in future winter fuel payments will only be paid to those on certain means-tested benefits, such as Pension Credit. Pensioners will no longer receive last year’s £300 cost of living support payment, which was topped up for those with disabilities or low incomes. Meanwhile from October, the energy price cap will jump up by 10%, pushing the bill for a typical household up from £1,568 to £1,717 a year, according to the energy regulator Ofgem.

However, the cap limits the maximum you can be charged for each unit of gas and electricity, rather than the total bill. If you use more energy, you will pay more – but if you can cut your usage, you can bring your bills back down.

Luckily, there are lots of low cost ways to bring down your energy bills, without resorting to extremes.

"We understand that it may be important for people to find ways to save, especially if they have lost a chunk of money they expected to have, but don’t put your health at risk– it’s important to keep warm and well over the winter," says a spokesperson for Age UK.

Even small changes can add up to make a big difference, on top of the basics like switching off lights, knowing when to turn your heating on, dealing with draughts and closing curtains and doors. Follow our tips to use energy more efficiently and save money at the same time.

Dial down your thermostat

Turning down the thermostat for your central heating by just one degree can cut your energy bills by around 10%, according to the Energy Saving Trust. Just don’t go below 18 degrees, according to the NHS and the UK Health Security Agency, particularly if you are aged over 65, have limited mobility or a health condition.

Save: Over 100 a year, according to Octopus Energy

Opt for an electric blanket

Heat yourself, rather than your whole home. When Octopus Energy gave away electric blankets to its most vulnerable customers, those customers saved 10% to 20% on their bills on average afterwards.

Save: £150 average winter saving, according to Octopus Energy

Adjust your boiler flow temperature

The default settings for the ‘flow temperatures’ - aka the temperature water leaves your boiler for heating or hot water - are often set too high. If you have a combi boiler, Octopus Energy recommends setting your flow temperature to 50c for heating and 55c for hot water. With a boiler and hot water cylinder, go for a few degrees over 60c for heating and hot water, and set your hot water cylinder to 60c.

Save: Around £65 a year, according to Nesta

Dress up your water tank

If you have a hot water cylinder, upgrade the insulation from a thin spray foam or a loose 25mm jacket to an 80mm thick British Standard Jacket.

Save: £27 a year, according to Octopus Energy

Change your shower head

You may well know that switching from a bath to a shower, and taking shorter showers, will cut both your energy bills and your water bills, if you are on a water meter. But switching to an energy efficient showerhead, which restricts the amount of water that emerges, can also save cash. If you are planning on making the switch there are several such energy efficient gadgets to help save up on bills.

Save: £71 a year, according to CGC Interiors

Cool your wash

Washing your clothes at 30c rather than higher temperatures, and doing one fewer load of washing each week, can really shrink your bills.

Save: £22 a year, according to the EST

Ditch the tumble drier

Drying clothes outside in warmer weather, or inside on racks, will save a bundle compared to using a tumble drier. Avoid drying clothes on radiators, because this will make your boiler work harder

Save: £62 a year, according to the EST

Focus on your fridge freezer

Set your fridge to 3c to 4c and your freezer to -18c. Defrost your freezer regularly, to prevent frost buildup, and clean the coils at the back, so it works more efficiently.

Save: £20 to £30 a year, according to Emergency Electrics and Heating 24-7

Switch your bulbs

Lighting makes up around 11% of the average energy bills. LED bulbs use 70% to 80% less electricity than traditional incandescent or halogen bulbs, and last longer, so go for LEDs next time your bulbs need replacing.

Saving: Between £4 to £13 per bulb, per year, according to the EST

How do I get Pension Credit?

Around 880,000 pensioners who are eligible for Pension Credit don’t claim it – don’t miss out!

Pension Credit is designed to top up income for those over state pension age in England, Scotland and Wales to at least £218.15 a week for a single person and £332.95 a week for a couple. Even if your income is higher, you may still qualify for Pension Credit if you have caring responsibilities, housing costs or a disability.

The average Pension Credit award is worth more than £3,900 a year, according to GOV.UK. Crucially, it unlocks not just the winter fuel payment, but a host of other benefits such as cold weather payments, help with housing costs and council tax, a free TV licence for those over 75, free NHS dental treatment and vouchers towards glasses or contact lenses.

People who receive the guarantee element of Pension Credit should also get a £150 discount deducted automatically from their electricity bills, under the Warm Home Discount scheme. People who receive certain other means-tested benefits and have high energy costs, assessed based on the type, age and size of their home, can also get the Warm Home Discount.

"If you are struggling with your bills, it is definitely worth making a claim, as you have nothing to lose,’ says a spokesperson for Age UK, ‘You may even be entitled to extra money if for example you are a carer or have disabilities."

Apply by 21 December 2024, the last date for making a backdated claim for Pension Credit, to be sure of receiving the winter fuel payment.

You can claim Pension Credit by phone, post or online. Visit apply-for-pension-credit.service.gov.uk, call the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234 or send a claim form to Freepost DWP Pensions Service 3. You can get a claim form from the government or by calling the Pension Credit claim line.

If you need help making a claim, try contacting Age UK or Citizens Advice. The Age UK free advice line is on 0800 169 6565.

Where to get help with energy bills?

If you are struggling to afford your energy bills:

Our money advice expert Faith Archer is an award-winning money journalist and blogger at Much More With Less, Faith was deputy personal finance editor at The Daily Telegraph and is a regular on BBC radio. She aims to make money matters such as family budgeting, pensions and tax easier to understand.