Winter heating bills will take up a significant percentage of any monthly budget, but older people using fixed incomes - no real potential of earning more - are hit particularly hard.
It all underlines the importance involving clearing debts before pension. Once someone has launched onto, their income isn't the only thing that shrinks. Their options for managing debt often get smaller too, along with the quality of 'spare' money they get once they've accounted for any their unavoidable expenses.
This doesn't mean that debt solutions such since debt management and debt consolidation reduction loans aren't an option for older people, but - in general - younger someone is, the easier it'll be to regulate their debts. After all, creditors are more apt to agree to a credit card debt management plan involving reduced payments (rather than pushing for bankruptcy, for instance) if they are able to see that the borrower can commit to making those reduced payments regularly before debts are paid off of.
But as long as the borrower acts soon enough, debt management can be a particularly effective way to debts in time with regard to retirement. A professional debt management organisation can help over-stretched borrowers do your maths - calculate how much they can really afford every month, and determine whether a debt management plan could help them clear their bills before they retire. HELP WITH HIGH BILLS
There are new rights to find some good help with water bills if you're on a low income and on the water meter. You will only pay the average bill that the mineral water company charges overall considering use a lot of water your bill will go down.
To qualify for help you must be on the water meter, and someone in the household must be on one such benefits:
Income Help
Income Based Job Seeker's Allowance
Retirement living Credit (from November 2003)
Working Tax Credit
Infant Tax Credit (except families who have the family element of Child Tax Credit only)
Casing Benefit
Authorities Tax Benefit
and
there are three or more children under 16 inside household,
or
someone inside household has a medical condition that means extra water use like:
Flaky skin condition
Weeping skin disease, i. e. eczema, psoriasis, varicose ulcers
Incontinence
info@ywct. org. uk
Only help with water or sewerage arrears that are no more than two years old and less than £ 1000. You ought to be in a multiple debt situation.
United Utilities http: //www. unitedutilities. com
Phone number: 0845 746 11 00
"Arrears Allocation Scheme" only assists with water or sewerage costs and application forms ought to be completed by local CAB for you. A customer counsellor may also offer a home see.
Thames Mineral water [http: //www. thames-water. com] (water company website only)
"Customer Help Scheme" only assists using water or sewerage bills and they prefer you will be referred by a local advice centre/NDL/CAB/Social Services/Age Concern
You may be visited in your house.
Welsh Water/Dwr Cymru
Phone: 0800 052 0145
Customer Assistance Fund You has to be referred by a money adviser and complete a credit card applicatoin form. After you have made payments for 6 months, the fund pays about half your water arrears. After another 6 months payments all of those other arrears will be payed off.
It all underlines the importance involving clearing debts before pension. Once someone has launched onto, their income isn't the only thing that shrinks. Their options for managing debt often get smaller too, along with the quality of 'spare' money they get once they've accounted for any their unavoidable expenses.
This doesn't mean that debt solutions such since debt management and debt consolidation reduction loans aren't an option for older people, but - in general - younger someone is, the easier it'll be to regulate their debts. After all, creditors are more apt to agree to a credit card debt management plan involving reduced payments (rather than pushing for bankruptcy, for instance) if they are able to see that the borrower can commit to making those reduced payments regularly before debts are paid off of.
But as long as the borrower acts soon enough, debt management can be a particularly effective way to debts in time with regard to retirement. A professional debt management organisation can help over-stretched borrowers do your maths - calculate how much they can really afford every month, and determine whether a debt management plan could help them clear their bills before they retire.
HELP WITH HIGH BILLS
There are new rights to find some good help with water bills if you're on a low income and on the water meter. You will only pay the average bill that the mineral water company charges overall considering use a lot of water your bill will go down.
To qualify for help you must be on the water meter, and someone in the household must be on one such benefits:
Income Help
Income Based Job Seeker's Allowance
Retirement living Credit (from November 2003)
Working Tax Credit
Infant Tax Credit (except families who have the family element of Child Tax Credit only)
Casing Benefit
Authorities Tax Benefit
and
there are three or more children under 16 inside household,
or
someone inside household has a medical condition that means extra water use like:
Flaky skin condition
Weeping skin disease, i. e. eczema, psoriasis, varicose ulcers
Incontinence
info@ywct. org. uk
Only help with water or sewerage arrears that are no more than two years old and less than £ 1000. You ought to be in a multiple debt situation.
United Utilities http: //www. unitedutilities. com
Phone number: 0845 746 11 00
"Arrears Allocation Scheme" only assists with water or sewerage costs and application forms ought to be completed by local CAB for you. A customer counsellor may also offer a home see.
Thames Mineral water [http: //www. thames-water. com] (water company website only)
"Customer Help Scheme" only assists using water or sewerage bills and they prefer you will be referred by a local advice centre/NDL/CAB/Social Services/Age Concern
You may be visited in your house.
Welsh Water/Dwr Cymru
Phone: 0800 052 0145
Customer Assistance Fund You has to be referred by a money adviser and complete a credit card applicatoin form. After you have made payments for 6 months, the fund pays about half your water arrears. After another 6 months payments all of those other arrears will be payed off.
Bristol Water http: //www. bristolwater. co. Pensions Advice Bristol, Bristol Pension Adviser, Bristol Pension Adviser