Information – Page 5

Articles in Cost of Living

A second cold weather payment was triggered this week in Buckinghamshire, covering the period between Monday 12^th December and Sunday 18^th December. This is an additional £25 on top of the existing cold weather payment, triggered in Buckinghamshire on Sunday 18^th December. This is because the cold weather is expected to last for the rest of this week.

BuDS strongly recommends that disabled people keep their heating on and stay as warm as possible. Cold weather payments are intended to help you pay the cost of the extra heating that may be needed to stay warm in freezing weather.

It is recommended by the Energy Saving Trust that you set your thermostat at the lowest comfortable setting for you, which should be between 18°C and 21°C. The best temperature will depend on your overall health and your individual circumstances. It is essential that you stay warm in this cold winter weather. Remember that if you have to go outside, it is very likely to be icy which increases your risk of falling.

Cold Weather Payments in Buckinghamshire

December 12, 2022December 12, 2022 Ben Clark

A cold weather payment has been triggered in Buckinghamshire today, Sunday 11^th December 2022, for the period between Monday 5^th December and Sunday 11^th December.

A cold weather payment is made if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecasted to be, zero degrees Celsius or below over 7 consecutive days. You will receive £25 for each 7-day period of very cold weather between 1st November and 31^st March.

To check whether your postcode is eligible for a cold weather payment, please type your postcode into the DWP’S, Cold Weather Payment Checker https://coldweatherpayments.dwp.gov.uk/search.php

BuDS is not attending Chiltern Open Air Museum’s Christmas Event

November 29, 2022November 29, 2022 Freya Clark

BuDS always strives to make events in Buckinghamshire accessible for disabled people. However, we have recently been hit with a wave of illness within our events team. After lots of careful consideration, our Trustees felt that attending this event would put too much strain on the health of our volunteers, and we are therefore very sadly announcing that we will not be attending this event.

If you have any questions or comments, please email info@buds.org.uk.

The Warm Home Discount Scheme

November 21, 2022November 21, 2022 Ben Clark

The Warm Home Discount is a one-off deduction of £150 from your electricity bill, under the Warm Home Discount Scheme. The money will NOT be paid to you – it is a one-off discount on your electricity bill between October 2022 and March 2023.

You may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead if your supplier provides you with both gas and electricity, and you are eligible.The discount will not affect any Cold Weather Payments or Winter Fuel Payments that your household may also be eligible for.

Read on for more.

Hands pulling money out of a wallet above a yellow circle, with a rising graph line superimposed above it. Image credit Yahoo

Cost of Living Payments from April 2023

November 21, 2022November 21, 2022 Ben Clark

The Autumn Statement earlier this month confirmed that, from April 2023, millions of people receiving benefits, pensioners, and others will be able to receive payments to help them through the ongoing cost of living crisis. Read on for more.

Cost Of Living Winter Payment

October 20, 2022November 21, 2022 Ben Clark

The second cost of living payment from the DWP is due in November 2022. However, there has been a lot of speculation from the media and online about the exact dates, which has caused a lot of confusion for many disabled people. The BuDS Cost of Living project team have worked through the data to get a clear picture of what is happening. Read on for more.

Information About The Government Energy Bills Support Scheme

October 17, 2022October 17, 2022 Ben Clark

The Government announced earlier this year that, as part of their efforts to combat the Cost of Living crisis, all households will receive £400 off their energy bills this winter. This discount will be applied across a 6-month period, starting in October 2022. This does not need to be paid back to the Government and should be considered similar to a grant. Read on for more.

BuDS’ Immediate Reaction to Government’s ‘Mini-Budget’ – 23 September 2022

September 23, 2022September 23, 2022 Ben Clark

BuDS is dismayed by the tax and spending changes announced by the Government today and feels it will mean harder and more difficult times for disabled people over the next few years, and possibly longer.

The Government has announced tax cuts and new handouts for private businesses and multinationals which will cost the taxpayer multiple billions of pounds, but has said nothing about how these changes are to be paid for. In reality, the only way for the Government to pay for these massive changes is by borrowing more, or by cutting public services, or both. It is completely unacceptable to launch a huge spending spree at tax-payers’ expense without also being honest and open about what this means for public services like pensions, benefits, roads and transport, education, the NHS, social care and all the other things which make society work.

Training Opportunities

May 31, 2022June 1, 2022 Ben Clark

Would you like to qualify as a professional Enquiries Advisor or as a Carbon Footprint Business Consultant? BuDS is happy to offer two great FREE opportunities for disabled people in Bucks to train for well-paid professional careers. Read on for more.

New Homeworking Support Grant to Help Clinically Vulnerable People in Bucks

January 14, 2022January 14, 2022 Ben Clark

We’d like to share some fantastic news if you are a Buckinghamshire worker who’s clinically vulnerable to Covid-19. There’s a new grants scheme coming soon which can fund your employer to help you work more successfully from home. The grants, of up to £2000, can fund technology, training or new IT and software. You can find full details here: https://bbf.uk.com/business-support/homeworking-support-initiative. Read on for more information.

Articles in Information