Spread some winter warmth with your winter fuel payment.
During winter more and more people in our community will have to make a difficult choice. Heat or eat?
Spread some warmth with your winter fuel allowance.
As we enter the winter months, more and more people in our community who are living in poverty will have to make a difficult choice.
Should I eat or heat? A choice no one should have to make in 2021, but unfortunately, it's a decision that many people in Kirklees will face. So we're appealing to anyone who receives a Winter Fuel Allowance but does not need some, or all of it, to make a donation to our Winter Warmer appeal so that we can continue to support people like Margaret.
Margaret is in her 80's and a full-time carer for her disabled son who lives with her. Sadly, 18 months ago Margaret's husband passed away.
My husband had been responsible for the household finances, including managing the various benefits and pensions we received, and when he died I struggled to cope.
She was unsure what bills needed to be paid and what benefits they received and over the following months got behind with repayments. Margaret contacted the Kirklees Council to say she was struggling and they referred her to us.
The Welcome Centre provided a two-person food pack for her and her son, and when Margaret explained they weren’t coping financially, The Welcome Centre gave her a call.
The Welcome Centre talked me through my benefits and bills and soon realised that I had more going out than coming in.
The Welcome Centre helped her to apply for a discretionary housing payment and an exceptional hardship grant from Kirklees Local Welfare. With this additional grant, she was able to clear her arrears and purchase a microwave, as her old one had broken. She continues to care for her son and they are managing much better now.
How to support the Winter Warmer Appeal
You can donate some or all of your Winter Fuel Allowance using the donate button below. A donation between £100 and £300 can make a big difference to our charity and people like Margaret.
- £300 will provide 16 people with enough food to last a week, equivalent to 323 meals
- £200 will provide seven couples with food for a week
- £100 will feed two families of four for a week
Can I donate my Winter Fuel Allowance in another way?
You can donate part or all of your Winter Fuel Allowance in several ways which are listed below.
Via bank transfer using the bank details below
- Our bank account is held with Unity Trust
- Bank account name - The Welcome Centre
- Sort code - 60-83-01
- Account number - 20309338
- Reference - Winter Warmer plus your name or the group making the donation
By cheque
- Cheques should be made payable to The Welcome Centre and sent to 15 Lord Street, Huddersfield, HD1 1Q. Please let us know if this is your winter fuel allowance payment and your name and contact details.
What is a Winter Fuel Allowance
A Winter Fuel allowance is a one-off, tax-free payment of between £100 and £300 made during the winter to help with heating costs. It is made to households with someone over Pension Credit age. Most people born on or before 5 April 1954 will qualify for a payment in 2020/21 (the date changes every year).
For more information visit the Gov website
When and how is it paid?
Most payments are made automatically during November and December. If you apply for the first time, you should receive your payment before Christmas. The amount you can receive each winter can vary according to your personal circumstances.
If you have any questions please contact Emma
This is an excellent way for local people to help some of the most vulnerable people in their community. I’ve passed my payment on, and encourage everybody who can, to do so too.
Michael - volunteer for The Welcome Centre passing on his Winter Fuel Allowance.