Fuel Poverty Information

Help to keep warm and well

Find information about how to keep warm and well at home in East Sussex on the Keep warm and well website.

Warm Home Check service

Our Warm Home Check service is available all year round. It offers advice and support to anyone who struggles to keep warm at home. If you are on a low income you may also qualify for a free home visit which includes:

• advice on getting help to pay for heating
• an assessment of your home to identify how to keep warm
• small works such as improving insulation or repairing boilers
• free emergency temporary heating and cooking appliances
• installation of replacement boilers, central heating systems or home insulation is also possible subject to eligibility and limited availability.

This service is provided by RetrofitWorks and Citizens Advice East Sussex. To find out more enquire online, text WARM to 80011 or call 0800 464 7307 .

Who can apply

For a free Warm Home Check visit you need to:

1) Own your own property or rent it privately in East Sussex

a) be on a low income and be:

• either living with a long term health condition
• or living with a disability.

b) be receiving one of the following benefits:

• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit
• Pension Guarantee Credit and/or Pension Savings Credit
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• If you claim Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit or Universal Credit your eligibility will depend on your income.

Other ways to get help

• Welfare benefits helpline
• Discretionary East Sussex Support Scheme
• coldAlert Sussex
• Heating and housing benefits - GOV.UK
• Keeping warm and well - NHS website
• Energy Saving Trust
• Get ready for winter - Met Office
• Stay well this winter

Energy Company Obligation (ECO) flexible eligibility

ECO is a Government initiative provided by the big six energy suppliers to help people keep their homes warm. ECO can provide funding for heating and insulation improvements for low-income and vulnerable households - social housing tenants are not eligible and there are eligibility criteria for this means-tested scheme.

Local authorities in East Sussex have all signed up to a Statement of Intent on the use of ECO funding which includes locally agreed 'flexible eligibility' criteria.

You can find more information on this on the Energy Efficiency section of the website.