Hypo- help with heating costs?

[Mama196]

I’m sure I know the answer but is there any government help with heating costs for hypothyroid patients who suffer cold intolerance that anybody has heard of? Just put my heating on for the first time this autumn and it feels very early somehow and I’m sure I’m colder than normal. Thermostat said 18degrees though which I’m sure is colder than most normal people can tolerate. I live with two very warm people who wear shorts and T-shirt’s most of the year so have lost all perspective!

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

18 degrees C is far too cold for me. I prefer around 21 degrees in the house. I haven't heard of any help for hypo patients in this regard.

I have two lung conditions that come under the "it's important to stay warm in the winter" umbrella and there's no specific help for people with these conditions other than (from British Lung Foundation's website):

* winter fuel payment for people born before 5/1/1953

* cold weather payment when temperature drops below zero degrees C for a period of 7 days between 1 November and 31 March, and that payment is made to people on certain income related benefits:

▶︎Income Support or Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance because you are aged 60 or over

▶︎Income Support or Income-based Employment and Support Allowance and have a child under 5 or are responsible for a disabled child

▶︎Income Support if you are long-term sick or disabled

▶︎Pension Credit

▶︎Universal Credit

* warm home discount scheme from some providers if you get the guaranteed credit element of Pension Credit (even if you get Savings Credit as well) or you’re on a low income

You could check with your utility company to see if there is anything else.

I live on my own now but when my husband was alive he used to walk around the house in short sleeved shirts all the time and did understand how I used to feel the cold, so I get where you're coming from!

[bonny12346 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi there, I was thinking about this yesterday.

We do not have to pay vat on certain things because we have chronic illnesses. So why do we have to pay vat on gas and electricity when it is our illnesses that cause us to use extra power?

Wouldn’t that be great.

Oh a chap came to fit a 2nd gen smart meter and told me like the latest Cambridge Analytica scandal they sell our details to the highest bidder. Or was it a joke? I to live on my own

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to bonny12346]

I doubt it was a joke and smart meters are also not good for your health

[Treepie in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Not good for health in what respect?

[JoJo891 in reply to Treepie]

They emit strong EMFs (electro magnetic fields) which are harmful to all living things. It s like having your own mobile phone mast in your house. Do not have a smart meter. You do not have to have one, whatever your electricity company says. Even your neighbours' smart meters can harm you.

[Treepie in reply to JoJo891]

I am avoiding one at present but the cheapest tariffs depend on fitting one and the Government will no doubt keep up the pressure on power suppliers to install them. I cannot see how one will help me to save money as I doubt I would bother to look at at.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Treepie]

Apparently most people find their bills go up (it's to do with the way power is measured AFAIK) and in other countries they've been shown to cause fires

[JoJo891 in reply to Treepie]

A lot of people are complaining about this practice so I am hoping the government will crack down on electricity companies doing this. I still would refuse to have one for my own health's sake. Good health is paramount. EMFs are seriously implicated in cancer, although electricity companies try to deny this. Also I do not like the idea of these companies snooping on us, and can cut our electricity off at the flick of a switch if they so choose. Smart meters also make it very difficult to change suppliers, as they each have their own meters, none of which appear to be compatible with eachother judging by all the complaining letters in the press.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Treepie]

stopsmartmeters.org.uk/cate...

[Matt8394Alien in reply to SeasideSusie]

I worked in universal credit and only payment we ever issued or came across was cold weather payments. Not aware of anything else.

[RedApple Administrator in reply to SeasideSusie]

You're a bit behind with your winter fuel payment birth date Susie

You may be eligible for Winter Fuel Payment if you meet all the following criteria:

you were born on or before 5 April 1954 (to be eligible for the financial year April 2019 to March 2020 – the eligibility birth date changes every financial year).

you lived in the UK throughout the qualifying week (for the financial year 2019–2020, this is 18–24 September 2019)

More info here ageuk.org.uk/information-ad... and here nidirect.gov.uk/articles/wi...

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to RedApple]

I took it from BLF's website blf.org.uk/support-for-you/...

I expect they haven't updated.

[Mama196 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you! It’s understandable I suppose that there’s not enough money to pay for these things with NHS already at breaking point.

[bantam12]

Our thermostat is set for 23-24 degrees, 18 would be way to cold.

[LindaC in reply to bantam12]

Ours is 26.4 C most of the year - even in summer - yet it hit this year at 26.9 C - I was sitting with legwarmers, microwave pads down the front of my shins... nobody listens, nobody gives x2 F's. xox

[fibrolinda]

I struggle at 21 in the house. Vest and thick socks, long sleeve top, thick chunky cardigan and huddle under a fleece blanket with microwave wheaty bag at 21 😬 Trying to reduce thermostat to 20.5 cos of cost but don't know if I can hack it. Mind you I get regular hot flushes when pour with sweat .... I check thermostat to make sure it's me being me...

[LindaC in reply to fibrolinda]

Yes, know the feeling - horrific xox

[helvella Administrator]

In the past few years we have seen a huge increase in the amount of battery-powered clothing. Much of it is intended for motorcyclists and various sports people though some is very domestic. Gilets, gloves, footwarmers, socks, and on and on.

Yes, it can be quite expensive, but I suspect that over an entire winter, especially if you require different warmth to those around you, they could be well worth considering.

As I have no idea of quality, and most of the vendors are unfamiliar to me, I won't even paste a link here. Have fun searching. And make sure whatever you decide to buy is decent quality, we don't want anyone injured by poor quality unsafe products.

[serenfach]

When I enquired about heating help, I was told I could get a free thermometer. I asked how many I could have and would burning them raise the temperature of the house. I know when it is cold!

The heating is set to 15. I cannot really afford that. I hate and dread the cold weather. Heat or eat is a real thing.

[Wetsuiter in reply to serenfach]

are you in a poorly insulated house ? 15 is not warm enough. maybe looked at grants and the like for insulation, if your home is pricey to heat

[serenfach]

It is an old welsh long house - some of it stone but most of it mud. Lovely and cool all summer! Loft is stuffed with insulation, and I only had heating put in 2 years ago, so it is still bliss not to be at freezing point!

[Mama196]

Thanks everyone- I live in a chilly Victorian house. It’s good to realise that most people would feel cold at 18 degrees and that I’m not actually doing too badly in terms of cold intolerance! I tend to feel ok with a few jumpers and pairs of socks/ slippers by 21degrees. I struggled more in summer in a way when you feel like you should be wearing summer dresses etc and instead are dressed in jeans and jumpers- at least in winter you can bundle up!