Energy discounts for disabled

British Gas has reopened its hardship fund for non-customers today (July 1) with grants worth up to £1,500 for struggling households. The British Gas Energy Trust for Individual and Families closed in the spring but is now accepting applications once again. To be eligible for help, you need to live in England, Scotland or Wales and be in debt to your energy company (not specific to British Gas). You must also not have more than £1,000 in savings and have received help from a money advice agency. The easiest - and the free way - to do this is through a charity. The main ones who will help you with energy bills are National Energy Action , Home Energy Scotland and Citizens Advice . Are you worried about affording your energy bills this winter? Let us know: [email protected] Finally, to get help through British Gas, you must not have received a grant from its Energy Trust within the last two years. You can see full eligibility criteria and … [Read more...] about British Gas reopens hardship fund TODAY with free energy bill help worth up to £1,500

Energy bills could soar even higher as customers face forking out to run collapsed firm Bulb. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng admitted he did not know if the £1bn-a-year cost would fall on a buyer for the firm, the Treasury, or all customers’ bills. Raising bills to cover the costs of propping up Bulb Energy, which failed in November, would be another blow to Brits as bills hit £2,800 a year this winter. But in a glimmer of hope, Mr Kwarteng also suggested electricity bills could be cut in future, by no longer pegging them to the price of gas. He said: “It cannot be the case forever that we can link directly our electricity prices to gas prices when gas is only a portion of the electricity generating mix.” Annual electricity and gas bills are already expected to hit £2,800 a year from October as the price cap is raised. Alongside this, the £2.7bn cost of 28 suppliers collapsing will be spread across customers' bills nationwide - adding about £94 per home. A deadline … [Read more...] about Your energy bills could soar EVEN higher to cover costs of collapsed Bulb Energy

With blistering summer temperature around much of Europe, it may be hard to convince people to think about heat pumps . But a push for more renewable energy plus the ongoing war in Ukraine and the curtailing of Russian gas and oil means there has hardly been a more pressing time. A heat pump is a system that moves around thermal energy. There are a number of different types of devices based on what they use, including exhaust air, ground and water. Ground-source heat pump equipment taps into the nearly constant temperature below the soil's surface. These geothermal heat pumps draw heat into a building in winter and remove warm air in summer, acting like an air-conditioner. This type of system uses a network of water-filled pipes that are either laid horizontally a few feet underground or pipes drilled vertically much deeper into the Earth's core. Advocates say the systems can be used nearly anywhere and are cheaper to run than other heating and air-conditioning systems like … [Read more...] about Can heat pumps be the answer to higher energy costs?

Shoppers at supermarket giants Asda, Sainsbury's and fashion retailer TK Maxx will receive huge discounts if they work in any one of 14 jobs. The shopping retailers will give customers an additional discount of up to 60% if they work in the education sector thanks to a scheme few people know about. A scheme called Discounts For Teachers is for anyone who works within the sector and includes teaching assistants, school administrators and even volunteers, BirminghamLive reported. Current deals include 60% off at TX Maxx, £16 off a £60 shop at Sainsbury's, 30% off at Asda and 20% discounts at Oasis along with many other retailers. Supermarket giants Asda are just one of the stores who give shoppers discount if they work in a certain sector ( Image: Getty Images) The scheme also gives money off holidays, 15% off at Haven and 10% discounts at Hoseasons with stays also included - and 15% off some stays at booking.com. The scheme says: "Our discounts aren't just … [Read more...] about Asda, Sainsbury’s and TK Maxx giving big discounts to shoppers who work in these 14 jobs

A teacher is speaking out about a little-known discount scheme with deals like 60% off at TX Maxx and 50% off at Amazon . Rhian Roberts, 29, is a primary school teacher and keen user of the Discounts For Teachers scheme. This scheme gives money off and vouchers for things like shopping, gym membership, financial services deals, bills and more. Current deals include £16 off a £60 shop at Sainsbury's, 50% off on certain products at Amazon, Office and Harvey Nichols and 20% discounts at Oasis. The scheme also gives money off holidays, like 15% off at Haven and 10% discounts at Hoseasons. Hotel stays are also included - like 15% off some stays at booking.com. The discount scheme is not just for teachers but for anyone who works in the education sector. This includes university staff, cleaners, administrative staff and more - and even volunteers and retired education workers can use it. Rhian estimates she saves around £100 a month using the scheme - … [Read more...] about Thousands of people missing out on discount scheme that offers 60% off at TK Maxx- and more

As soon as I got my lipoedema diagnosis last year, tears rolled down my cheeks. For years, doctors told me that I was ‘just fat’. But finally a medical professional had confirmed my disproportionately large legs were a medical condition – an extremely painful chronic disease that causes fibrotic fat to accumulate in the lower part of the body, over which the patient has very little to zero control. It was the validation I’d waited nearly 30 years to receive. When I was 12 years old, I began noticing distinct changes in my body. I quit wearing shorts or swimsuits and avoided all activities where I was expected to show my legs. Whenever I looked at them, I felt deeply ashamed and disgusted with myself. By age 14, I was so ashamed of my big legs that I convinced my parents to let me have a free consultation with a plastic surgeon. Back then, I was 5 foot 6 inches (170cm) tall and weighed roughly 135 pounds (61kg), the majority of which were within my legs. I was so … [Read more...] about Doctors told me I was ‘just fat’ – my serious medical condition was missed

With the arrival of summer finally here, there's many parties, BBQ's and occassions to look forward to and none of them would be complete without? You guessed it, good food of course. Those keen to stay healthy this summer, but don’t want to compromise on flavour are in luck thanks to Gousto . The UK’s best value recipe box and fitness coach, Joe Wicks have teamed up to create a range of 12 lighter, veg-packed summer recipes. All serve up variety, health and quality without breaking the bank. The Joe’s Feel Good Fuel range is available to add to boxes now with first delivery on Juy 16. Customers can tuck into tasty delights such as lusciously lighter Chipotle Mac ‘N’ Cheese and vibrant Tagine-style Squash Salads. What’s more, with Gousto’s introductory discounts of up to 65% off , there are even greater savings to be made. How to save on a Gousto subscription New customers of money-saving website Topcashback can earn £9.90 cashback when subscribing to Gousto. … [Read more...] about Gousto teams with Joe Wicks to launch 12 healthy summer recipes – from less than £4

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday urged the public to face the country's economic problems together, as inflation in Europe's leading economy remained stubbornly high. Scholz published a new video in his weekly podcast, admitting that rising prices were troubling many citizens . He called for the population to "link arms and stick together." Just days after data showed prices rose 7.6% in June compared to a year earlier, Scholz said he would convene a meeting of experts to tackle the cost of living crisis. The chancellor said he has invited trade unions, employers, the central bank (Bundesbank) and academics for a summit that kicks off Monday at the chancellery in Berlin. The campaign, dubbed "Concerted Action," echoes similar efforts by former West German chancellors in the 1960s and 1970s. One-off payments proposed instead of wage hikes Economists and politicians have mooted several ideas in recent days to ease the burden on personal budgets. Labor Minister … [Read more...] about Scholz: Germans must ‘stick together’ over cost of living crisis

Boris Johnson’s move to extend tariffs on imported steel by two years — a probable breach of World Trade Organisation rules — was welcomed by protectionist MPs from both sides of the political aisle. Industry also predictably lauded the decision, saying it will be protected from artificially cheap imports. Much like fishing, steel carries with it a disproportionate amount of political focus compared to its size — in 2020 the £2bn it contributed to the economy was the equivalent of just 0.1pc of total economic output and 1.2pc of manufacturing. But as the industry likes to point out: everything is made of steel. The metal goes into cars, aircraft, new buildings and the machinery that forms almost everything else. Without it, steel insiders say the logic of having a manufacturing industry in the UK would be considerably weaker — a fact that will not be lost on the Prime Minister. The move was pegged as an effort to “protect the steel sector”, Trade Secretary Anne-Marie … [Read more...] about With the Tories in turmoil, steel helps Boris Johnson show his mettle

Iain Duncan Smith says UK needs to focus on 'growth' Sign up for FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info The former leader of the Conservative Party recently co-authored a report for the Centre for Brexit Policy, which argued that the establishment is holding the country back from unlocking its true potential. Instead of viewing the UK as a declining international force, the report argues Brexit gives Britain the chance to become a dominant global power now it is free from the EU’s shackles. Related articles IDS crushes Sturgeon's Indyref2 as ‘ridiculous’ distraction Iain Duncan Smith's cost-cutting masterplan to avoid 'disaster' In an … [Read more...] about Brexit: IDS slams ruling elites for ‘locking to Europe’ in masterplan to slash red tape