Health and welfare support

Help to reduce your household bills

We understand that when winter approaches people are worried about the cost of their heating, water bills and the cost of food. Here are some ways to help reduce your everyday household bills and keep warm this winter.

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Home Energy Advice Team

The Home Energy Advice Team (HEAT) can visit your home, conduct a thermal imaging survey to show you where your home is losing heat (and money), and provide you with free remedial measures such as draught proofing.

HEAT's trained Energy Champions will help you to identify energy efficiency grants you may be eligible for, whether you are struggling with bills or looking to make investments for long term savings. They will send you a written report with recommendations bespoke to your home. All Energy Champions undergo a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check and sign confidentiality agreements to protect your privacy.

Book a free home energy survey

Help to Heat Schemes

Find energy grants for your home Including boiler upgrades, by visiting: Find energy grants for your home (Help to Heat) - GOV.UK

One of the Help to Heat Schemes is the Warm Homes Local Grant (WHLG).  The WHLG is a government-funded scheme that helps low-income households in England improve energy efficiency and switch to low-carbon heating.

Warmth Matters

The Warmth Matters team deliver advice sessions for groups and individuals at various locations across Surrey, helping households with a mixture of light-touch advice at events, face-to-face appointments at community venues and telephone support. Helping people to keep warmer and spend less through a wide variety of strategies:

  • Advice on taking simple measures to save energy and adopting energy efficient habits
  • Advice on tackling dampness and mould
  • Empowering people to take action with energy debt
  • Help with switching suppliers and understanding bills
  • Priority Services Register enrolments

Warmth Matters run a friendly impartial helpline every Monday 10am to 2pm. Call 07442 482284

Support from energy and utility companies

Electricity and gas suppliers

Contact your electricity and gas suppliers for advice, payment breaks and grants. The following energy suppliers offer grants to their customers:

Water company schemes

Water companies offering discounts to eligible residents details can be found here:

WaterSure - help with paying your water bills

WaterSure is a scheme which helps some people with their water bills. To apply for the scheme, you must be on benefits and need to use a lot of water either for medical reasons or because your household has a certain number of school-age children.

You also need to be on a water meter or be waiting to have one installed. You can apply for WaterSure by filling out a form from your water company provided here:

Support for heating oil costs

UK Government announced funding for low income households who use heating oil on Monday 16 March 2026. We know that heating a home with oil can be costly, especially for households on a low income.

From Tuesday 5 May, we have financial support available for residents who:

  • Use oil as their main source of heating, and
  • Are struggling financially - this means on benefits or annual income is below the London Living Wage (£28,860)

Support is limited and subject to eligibility checks. Only one application per household.

To find out whether you may be eligible and to receive guidance on next steps, please contact our Community Helpline on 0300 200 1008, open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, excluding bank holidays.

Our advisors will

  • Talk through the support available
  • Explain who the support is intended for
  • Provide advice on how to apply

Heating oil and domestic fuel price increases – what you need to know

Many households across the UK are experiencing sharp and sudden increases in heating oil and other domestic fuel prices. Recent reports show prices doubling or even tripling within days, with some customers facing cancelled orders and being requoted at much higher rates.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation following reports of potential price gouging, including:

  • Orders cancelled and re-offered at much higher prices
  • Sudden increases on automated delivery schemes
  • Significant jumps in quotes, sometimes by £100 in a week

This is happening against a backdrop of major global disruption, particularly conflict in the Middle East, which has caused wholesale kerosene prices to surge. Much of Europe’s jet fuel and therefore kerosen typically passes through the Strait of Hormuz, which is currently disrupted.

Why are prices rising so fast?

According to industry sources and consumer reports:

  • Heating oil prices are closely linked to jet fuel markets, not just crude oil
  • Wholesale kerosene prices have more than doubled
  • Distributors often hold only 1 to 2 days of stock and must purchase at daily market rates
  • High volatility is causing prices to fluctuate several times per day
  • The consumer organisation Which? also notes that heating oil is an unregulated market, meaning suppliers are not restricted by price caps. Shopping around can help, but this is challenging when prices change so rapidly.

What measures can you take to protect yourself?

Prices vary widely between suppliers. Consumers are encouraged to compare multiple companies and explore local buying groups to secure better rates.

Check before you pay

If a supplier cancels an agreed order and reissues a higher quote, this may breach consumer protection rules. Keep emails, receipts and all documentation.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is particularly interested in hearing about:

  • Cancelled confirmed orders
  • Unexpected changes to automated delivery pricing
  • Any behaviour that seems unfair or exploitative

Get support if you use alternative fuels

Citizens Advice offers guidance for households using:

  • Heating oil
  • Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG)
  • Biomass
  • Coal

Support may include grants, local hardship funds, or energy efficiency improvements. More information on the Citizens Advice Get Help If You use oil, LPG , coal or wood to heat your home web pages.

How to report concerns

If you believe you’ve been treated unfairly or suspect price gouging, you can report it to:

  • The CMA is actively investigating the heating oil market. Report directly via their consumer reporting service.
  • Citizens Advice Consumer ServicePhone: 0800 144 8848 They can provide personalised advice and direct cases to relevant services.

Broadband Social Tariff

Social tariffs are cheaper broadband and phone packages for people claiming Universal Credit, Pension Credit and some other benefits. Some providers call them ‘essential’ or ‘basic’ broadband. If you or someone in your household claims an eligible benefit, you could switch to any of the tariffs available. Most social tariffs are cheaper than regular broadband packages, ranging from £10-£24 a month.

A full list of available social tariffs can be found on the Ofcom website Social tariffs: Cheaper broadband and phone packages - Ofcom

Food waste reduction

It’s best to reduce food waste where possible; a family of four could save £83 a month just by reducing the amount of food they throw away. That’s around £1,000 per year! Visit the Surrey Environment Partnership website for tips on reducing food waste. Surrey Environment Partnership - Food waste

Citizens Advice

If you need further support to complete forms or to apply for grants and benefits, Citizens Advice can offer A wide range of support and guidance.

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