Free legal advice
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Assistance with Fuel and Water bills
Local Authorities Q&A for Energy Companies’ Priority Services Register for people who are Clinically Extremely Vulnerable
What does this scheme mean for CEVs?
• Energy suppliers are required by the regulator, Ofgem, to hold a register of customers who
may need additional support called a Priority Service Register.
• If you are clinically extremely vulnerable you fall within Ofgem’s definition of a customer in a
vulnerable circumstance and therefore you should speak to your supplier if you would like to
be added to this register. You will not need to provide evidence that you are clinically
extremely vulnerable.
• The additional services provided to you will include accessible billing, safety measures when
someone from the energy supplier needs to enter your home, being able to nominate
someone to manage communications on your account and whether a prepayment meter is
appropriate for your situation.
• Suppliers have also agreed to provide additional support to consumers in financial difficulty
during the pandemic, which could include pausing debt repayments, stopping
disconnections, sending you prepayment top ups if you cannot leave the house and referring
you to independent debt advisors for support.
• Please contact your energy supplier for more information or visit:
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-and-electricity-guide/extra-helpenergy-services/priority-services-register
Further information is also available
at: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-and-electricity-guide/extra-helpenergy-services/priority-services-register
Will CEVs be required to provide evidence that they are vulnerable to receive help?
• No. Energy companies do not usually require evidence when adding vulnerable consumers
to the PSR, as this is usually done on the basis of a conversation between the consumer and
the supplier. Therefore, we do not expect that suppliers will ask for proof of CEV status.
Is this scheme only available to CEVs?
• No. The Priority Services Register is available to all vulnerable consumers. For more
information on the definition of who is classed as vulnerable, please see link here
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-and-electricity-guide/extra-helpenergy-services/priority-services-register -
Help available to local residents
Acle & District Foodbank:
Contact the Foodbank for a food parcel on the freephone number
0800 774 7286 for some short-term helpHelp is also available from:
Norfolk County Council’s Assistance Scheme (NAS): 0344 800 8020
- Provide emergency financial help
- Supply essential household goods and furniture
- Give support, guidance and advice
To receive help from the NAS you must:
- Be 16–years-old or over
- Live in Norfolk
- Or have been moved out of Norfolk by a government department in the past three months
- Or plan to move to Norfolk in the next 28 days
- Be in financial hardship or receive a means-tested benefit
NCC will look at your income and savings. If you have adequate savings to meet your basic living needs, unfortunately your application will be refused
And Broadland District Council’s Help Hub 01603 430431, for:
- Benefits
- Housing
- Wellbeing and health
- Money worries and debt
- Domestic abuse
For older and vulnerable residents, there is the Home Handyman Scheme
Telephone 01603 430518 or email handyperson@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk
for: fitting locks or key safes, checking security measures, repairs of fixtures and fittings, changing or fitting light bulbs or fire alarms, minor furniture repairs, clearing out single storey guttering, minor changes to reduce slips and falls and fitting grab rails
If you would like to donate food or household items to the foodbank, you can drop off at the Acle Methodist Church, opposite the library, on Thursday mornings, from about 10.00 – 11.30, when they have a drop-in coffee morning. Items with a long shelf-life please…
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Healthy Start scheme
You’ll qualify for the Healthy Start scheme if you’re at least 10 weeks pregnant or you have at least one child that’s under 4.
In addition, you must be receiving any of the following:
- Child Tax Credit (only if your family’s annual income is £16,190 or less)
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Pension Credit (which includes the child addition)
- Universal Credit (only if your family’s take-home pay is £408 or less per month from employment)
You will also be eligible for Healthy Start if:
- you’re under 18 and pregnant, even if you are not claiming any benefits
- you claim income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and are over 10 weeks pregnant
- you, your partner or your carer get Working Tax Credit run-on only after you have reported you’re working 16 hours or less per week
To find out if your family earns £408 or less per month from employment whilst claiming Universal Credit, look at your ‘take-home pay for this period’ on your monthly Universal Credit award notice.
More information here
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Various regular social events
Tea & Talk – 2nd Thursday of each month from 2.00pm,
in the Methodist Hall
Just turn up, £1Acle & District Voluntary Aid (AVA) lunches
Every Wednesday, 11.00am to 1.00pm
A three-course lunch, tea, coffee and biscuits
Transport available if required
Ring Mandy Stimpson 01493 368196Social Mug
Every Wednesday from 9.30am in the Social Club at the
rear of the Recreation Centre
Tea/coffee and cake for £2.50Thursdays 10am-12 noon Pop-in – the Methodist church is open as a meeting place serving tea and coffee
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Norfolk County Council help
Useful phone numbers and links for various departments at NCC:
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In case of flooding
The Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance is a new taskforce, brought together in early 2021, to work so that Norfolk communities and infrastructure are safer and more resilient to the risks of inland and coastal flooding. The Alliance includes, among others, the Environment Agency, Anglian Water, the Association of Drainage Authorities, the Water Management Alliance, Water Resources East, the Norfolk Resilience Forum, the Broads Authority and Norfolk’s County, Borough, City, District and Parish Councils.
In the event of flooding residents can call 0344 800 8013 to report it. The new number gives residents a single point of contact and allows reports to be made swiftly. Alternatively, residents can continue to report flooding online via Norfolk County Councils flooding pages.
Different agencies respond to different types of flooding, which has historically made reporting a flood by telephone more complicated when and where it is not possible to ascertain the source of floodwaters. The new number provides a single point of contact making the reporting of flooding quicker and easier. Where there is a potential risk to life from flooding people should still call 999 immediately.
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Acle Foodbank – new phone number
Acle & District Foodbank has a new freephone number… 0800 774 7286. If you need a bit of help please ring us…We can provide fortnightly food parcels to help you and your family.
Don’t forget there is also help via NCC’s Norfolk Assistance Scheme and BDC’s Hardship Fund..you may be eligible for one of these..
If you would like to donate food or household items to the foodbank, you can drop off at the Acle Methodist Church, opposite the library, on Thursday mornings, from about 10.00 – 11.30, when they have a drop-in coffee morning. Items with a long shelf-life please…
