Welcome to Sam Bond from the local Age Concern service. If you have any questions or concerns that you would like Sam to answer, write to us at whwhistler@aol.com and we’ll ask Sam’s advice. Now that the cold weather has hit us, older people will need their heating more than most. They may not go out and about as much as others, may move about indoors less, and are more vulnerable to the effects of the cold. However, workers at the Information and Advice Service at Age Concern Brighton, Hove and Portslade know from experience that many older people struggle to pay their fuel bills. So what do we advise older people in this situation?

One of the things you can do is to ask your supplier about social tariffs. Most energy suppliers offer social tariffs (reduced rates) to older people and those with long term health conditions. Each supplier has their own rules about who qualifies for social tariffs, so contact your supplier to check whether you qualify.
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