Our money expert on why November is a good time to write your will, and how to qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment.
The price of electricity and gas rose last month, putting up a typical bill by nearly 10%. That more than wipes out the 7% cut on 1 July.
The price of each unit of gas is up nearly 14%, while each unit of electricity rose by nearly 10%.
Standing charges – which you pay just to be connected – have also risen a little and it now costs £6.50 per week just to have both fuels delivered to your home if you pay by monthly direct debit or have a prepayment meter.
However, it’s the five million people who wait for a quarterly bill and pay it by card or cheque who face the highest costs for the energy they use, and their standing charges are higher too – over £1 a day.
If you pay that way, changing to direct debit will save you money. Ask your supplier how.
It’s not too late to claim Pension Credit to get the Winter Fuel Payment this year. Claims made up to 21 December will be backdated three months and, says the Department for Work and Pensions, they will be in time to qualify for the £200 per household Winter Fuel Payment (£300 for over-80s).
It's probably too late for this year (the cut-off is around 13 November) but for future years, remember that receiving Pension Credit means you can get the one-off £150 Warm Home Discount on your electricity bill too. It should be applied automatically by your electricity supplier.
So, my advice is to claim Pension Credit as soon as you can – and remember the threshold for getting it can be much higher for older pensioners and people with disabilities or caring responsibilities.
Claim pension credit online at gov.uk, or call 0800 99 1234.
November is the ideal time to write your will, or review it if you have one already, because it is Will Aid month, when solicitors throughout the UK draw up wills for free – or rather in exchange for a £100 donation to one of their charities.
Even if you have a will, it is worth reviewing it, not least because there have been tax changes as a result of the Budget.
It now costs £1-13 shillings (£1.65) to post a letter first class and even then it might not get there the next day.
Second class remains at 17 shillings (85p). First class prices went up on 7 October.
People who have followed my advice in the past and stocked up on stamps avoid these rises – while their hoard lasts.
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