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While undergoing or recovering from treatment, many people with cancer find they feel the cold more, are at home for longer periods of time and so use more energy for heating the home.
Grants are available to help you improve the heating systems and insulation in your home.
When a winter has been particularly cold (with temperatures of 0°C or lower for seven consecutive days), the government makes a weekly payment of £25 to people who receive certain benefits. Cold Weather Payments will automatically be made on top of your usual benefits.
Winter Fuel Payment is a government scheme to help older people keep warm during winter. A yearly payment is made to both men and women who have reached the State Pension age for women. The amount you receive depends on your individual circumstances, such as whether you live with another qualifying person and how old they are.
Warm Front (England)
The Warm Homes Scheme provides grants to people who are receiving certain benefits to make energy-saving changes, such as putting in loft insulation, to their homes. Visit the Warm Homes website| or call 0800 988 0559 for more information.
The Energy Assistance Package (Scotland)
Nest (Wales)
Nest is the Welsh Assembly government’s scheme to make homes warmer and more fuel efficient. Nest provides advice about saving energy, managing money, whether you’re on the most appropriate tariff and whether any benefits are available to you. You may also be eligible to receive energysaving home improvements, such as central heating and loft insulation, at no cost to you. You can call Nest free from a landline on 0800 512 012, call 0300 456 2655 from a mobile or visit the Nest website|.
A number of charities, including Macmillan, provide grants for people who are having difficulty paying their fuel costs or meeting other expenses.
Find out more about Macmillan Grants| or call our cancer support specialists on 0808 808 00 00.
If you are an npower customer and are spending more than 10% of your income on fuel (and have limited savings) then call Macmillan on 0808 808 00 00 (Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm) to find out if you are eligible for the FMP.
If you are accepted on to the programme you could save money on your bills, receive assistance with arrears and energy efficiency advice, and have a full benefits check.
Call our cancer support specialists free on 0808 808 00 00 for more information.
Health Through Warmth (HTW) was set up by npower in partnership with National Energy Action (NEA) and the NHS in 2000, the scheme operates in 15 areas |of England and Wales.
HTW accesses grants if you are eligible and, depending on your circumstances, can also seek assistance from charitable organisations and the unique npower Health Through Warmth Crisis Fund to help pay for the heating or insulation measures required to improve the levels of warmth, comfort and quality of life for vulnerable people with cold and damp related illnesses. You do not need to be an npower customer to be referred to the scheme, but you will need to be referred by a health worker who has attended HTW awareness sessions.
Call the Health through Warmth main office on 0845 070 2809 for more information.
For answers, support or just a chat, call the Macmillan Support Line free (Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm)
If you have any questions about cancer, need support or just want someone to talk to, ask Macmillan.
Thousands of people with cancer are struggling to keep warm and pay their energy bills. We're campaigning for a better deal for people affected by cancer.