A WINTER fuel scheme that could give some households £200 to help with their energy bills has been extended.

The Welsh Government has announced an extension to the Winter Fuel Support Scheme which will double the amount of payment from £100 to £200.

This is available to new applicants and will be retrospectively awarded to all those who have already received a payment.

If you have already received a £100 payment through the scheme, you do not need to do anything.

Your local county council will automatically make a further payment to you, and we aim to make this payment as soon as possible and before the end of February.

To date Ceredigion County Council has assisted almost 2,000 households with these payments, and paid out in excess of £195,000. So if you are facing increased fuel bills and think that you may qualify please submit your application as soon as possible. Please note that the scheme has now been extended to the 28 February 2022.

Eligible households can claim a one-off £200 payment to provide support towards paying their on-grid winter fuel bills for their primary residence in Wales.

The scheme is open to households where one member is in receipt of working age means-tested welfare benefits (at any time between the 1 December 2021 and 31 January 2022).

Be that income support, income based job seekers allowance, income related employment & support allowance, universal credit, or working tax credits.

The payment will be available to all eligible households regardless of whether they pay for their fuel on a pre-payment meter, by direct debit or by paying a bill quarterly.

Cllr Gareth Lloyd, Ceredigion County Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement Services and Public Protection, said: “I would urge people who are facing increased fuel bills to check their eligibility for the Winter Fuel Support Scheme to get invaluable support with fuel bills when it’s needed most.”

Applications can be made up until midnight on 28 February 2022.