Government encourage Warm Front scheme participation as Winter approaches.

Warm Front scheme - claim the help!

The Government has called on pensioners and those on low incomes to make sure they claim for the help they're entitled to, to help them keep warm this Winter.

The Warm Front scheme provides grants to people in poorly heated or insulated homes. Grants can be awarded for boiler repairs, new central heating systems and insulation.

If you're eligible, you could apply for up to £3,500 towards the costs of work - up to £6,000 if your home doesn't have mains gas.

Over the next two years, over 90,000 people are expected to be helped by the Warm Front scheme. 2 million have already been helped since the scheme launched in 2000.

To enquire about qualifying, all you have to do is call the Warm Front team on 0800 316 6004. If you're eligible, they'll handle all the paperwork and arrange a survey of your property to work out what measures will be most effective. These are tailored to each individual property.

Insulation measures include loft insulation, draught proofing, cavity wall insulation and hot water tank insulation.

Heating system measures include repairs to existing heating systems, new gas or oil central heating systems, electric storage heaters, electric heaters for bathrooms, conversion of open fireplaces to modern glass fronted fires and timer controls for electric space and water heaters.

Over £110 million has been set aside for 2011 with another £100 million set aside for 2012/2013 for privately owned or rented households in England.

More information can be found on the Department of Energy & Climate Change website.

photo credit: brett holt