Carmarthenshire Council outlines qualifying arrangements for Welsh Government Fuel Support Scheme announced

THE Welsh Government is introducing a Fuel Support Scheme. Eligible households can claim a one-off £200 payment to provide support towards paying their winter fuel bills. The payment is available to eligible households (one payment per household).

Carmarthenshire Council aim to make in excess of 13,000 direct payments to eligible applicants, where those in receipt of Council Tax Reduction Scheme a direct payment will be made using bank details gathered as part of the Cost of Living Payment. For all other eligible households where the council does not hold bank details, letters have started to go out with information on how to apply for the payment.

Anyone who is not contacted who believes they are eligible for the payment can submit a claim via our website from the 26 September 2022. If you have difficulty using online facilities, then a paper application form will be available at your local HWB.

Eligibility for payments:

A payment can be made under the scheme if all four of the following conditions are met:

Application Condition:

An application must be received by 5pm on Tuesday 28 February 2023.

Benefit Entitlement Condition:

The scheme is open to households where an applicant, or their partner is in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits at any time between 1 September 2022 and 31 January 2023:

Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS); Income Support; Income Based Job Seekers Allowance; Income Related Employment and Support Allowance; Universal Credit; Working Tax Credits; Child Tax Credits; Pension Credit; Personal Independence Payment (PIP); Disability Living Allowance (DLA); Attendance Allowance; Carers Allowance; Contributory Based/New Style Jobseekers Allowance; Contributory Based/New Style Employment and Support Allowance; Armed Forces Independence Payment; Constant Attendance Allowance and War Pension Mobility Supplement

An applicant or their partner who is liable for the fuel costs but does not receive any of the qualifying benefits can be considered for a payment if they have a person living with them who –

Occupies the householder’s home as their primary residence; and

Are a dependent child or another adult living with the householder (or their partner); and,

Receives one of the following benefits between 1 September 2022 and 31 January 2023:

Attendance Allowance

Disability Living Allowance

Personal Independence Payment

Armed Forces Independence Payment

Constant Attendance Allowance

War Pension Mobility Supplement

Fuel Liability Condition:

An applicant meets this condition if they (or their partner) are liable for Council Tax as the liability which is accepted as evidence of being responsible for paying the fuel costs of their household.

Applicants not responsible for paying Council Tax can demonstrate they meet this condition by providing evidence they are responsible for paying the fuel costs for their property.

Applicants can only claim for fuel costs at a property in Wales and where this property is considered their primary residence.

Payment Condition:

An applicant can only receive one payment from this scheme. An applicant meets this condition if they (or their partner) have not already received a payment under this 2022/2023 Welsh Government Fuel Support Scheme.