Warm Spaces, Warm Homes and Pension Credits

Winter is certainly here! To help residents, Bedford Borough Council is working with local partners to develop a Warm Spaces network. Warm Spaces provide somewhere people can go to stay warm and maybe enjoy some company and a hot drink, or simply spend time reading a magazine or book.

Last week, Mayor Dave Hodgson visited the Warm Space at St Mary's in Goldington. You can see a video at https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2156108827908595

There are around 30 Warm Spaces across the Borough in community, village and parish halls, places of worship and other community venues as well at The Higgins, Bedford and all the Borough's Libraries. You can find your nearest Warm Space, visit http://bedford.gov.uk/warm-spaces

The Council, the NHS and National Energy Foundation's warmth and wellbeing service Better Housing Better Health have recently launched a Warm Homes scheme. Over 1,600 residents with health conditions are being contacted to apply for free support to help improve the warmth of their homes. You can find out more about this at www.bhbh.org.uk or by calling 0800 107 0044 for more information.

Residents who are not eligible for support under the Warm Homes Bedford Borough service but are struggling to cope with the rising cost of living, can visit https://www.bedford.gov.uk/benefits-and-support/grants-and-funding/help-cost-living for information about help that is available

Pension Credit is designed to help people over State Pension age and on a low income with daily living costs, though you do not need to be in receipt of State Pension to receive it. There is a deadline of 18 December to apply for Pension Credit and if eligible claim £324 in backdated Pension Credit for up to 3 months.

Pension Credit tops up a person's income to a minimum of £182.60 per week for single pensioners and to £278.70 for couples. The average Pension Credit award is worth over £3,500 a year and even a small Pension Credit award can provide access to a wide range of other benefits - such as help with housing costs, council tax or heating bills - in addition to the extra cost of living payments.

Applications for Pension Credit can be made online at https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/how-to-claim or over the telephone by calling 0800 99 1234 (Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm).