Families facing ‘postcode lottery’ for support amid rising costs of fuel

Thousands of low-income families will miss out on vital heating support because of the “postcode lottery” in schemes amid price rises, an over-60s campaign group has warned.

Silver Voices warned that the delegation of support schemes for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and heating oil to the devolved Parliaments and English local authorities is leading to a “mish mash” of different grants and eligibility criteria.

Dennis Reed, director of the organisation, said: “Many pensioner and low-income households cannot afford the crazy prices to restock heating oil and LPG.

“We argued at the outset that the £50 million support fund was nowhere near sufficient to meet need, representing just £35 per household if the fund was distributed evenly to all families. But the shocking postcode lottery which is developing will leave many unable to afford hot water and heating and is turning the problem into a crisis.

“The Government must reflect on the implementation chaos, increase the funding available and issue firm instructions on eligibility and levels of grant in England.”

Heating oil and LPG are used for heating and hot water in about 6% of homes in the UK.

The Government announced a £50 million support scheme in response to the doubling or tripling of heating oils and LPG prices caused by the Middle East war.

Silver Voices said local authorities have received an allocation of funding, but are under no obligation to use it all for heating oil support and can choose the eligibility criteria and level of grants themselves.

Many authorities have not set up a scheme at all, it said.

In Scotland, those on benefits and those classified as vulnerable who are in financial hardship can apply for a £300 subsidy.

In Northern Ireland, those on benefits or households with less than £30,000 income can apply for a £100 subsidy in the form of a pre-paid voucher.

In Wales, those on the Council Tax Reduction Scheme will be eligible for a £200 payment.

Silver Voices fears that thousands of low-income families in England will miss out on this essential support because of the vagaries of the scheme.

In a statement, the campaign group said: “The guidance given to local authorities is lengthy, but vague, giving no advice on what priority should be given to heating oil support, little guidance on eligibility, and no advice on the levels of support to be made available.

“We hear from our members that many local authorities do not have up-and-running schemes, and nobody has advised Silver Voices that they have yet made a successful application.”