Daily Life

here to HELP

Summary: A partnership between British Gas and RNIB giving help to people with sight problems.

• Who qualifies?
• What other help is available?
• Here to HELP case studies

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RNIB has worked with British Gas on the 'Here to Help' project, an award-winning energy efficiency programme, since it was first launched in 2002. The scheme offers free home insulation, worth over £500, and free products and services for people with sight problems.

You could be entitled to:

• free loft and cavity wall insulation
• free RNIB products such as a big button phone, desk lamp and talking watch
• a year’s free RNIB Membership
• a confidential benefits health check.

“The service I have received from British Gas and RNIB has been very good indeed. I would say this scheme is exceptional”.
Peggy, a satisfied customer

Who qualifies?

You must be a British Gas customer.

You must own your home or rent from a private landlord.

Your home must require loft and / or cavity wall insulation.

You, or someone you live with, must be over 70 years of age or in receipt of one of the following benefits:

• Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance
• State Pension Credit
• Income Support
• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Benefit
• Income-based Job Seekers Allowance
• Working Tax Credit (income no more than £14,600)
• Child Tax Credit (income no more than £14,600).

British Gas will send a surveyor to establish whether your home needs further insulation and will pay for it to be installed, if you qualify. Cavity wall and loft insulation will save an average of £200 a year on heating bills.
[Source: Energy Saving Trust, August 2007. Based on a three-bedroom, gas-heated semi-detached house with an average annual gas consumption of 20,500 kWh. Individual savings may vary depending on type and age of home.]

What other help is available?

If you receive free insulation you will also be eligible for some RNIB products and services, free of charge. For example, a big button telephone, talking kitchen or bathroom scales, a talking clock or watch, as well as a year’s RNIB membership – all free of charge.

Unfortunately, due to the nature of home insulation, we are generally not able to offer ‘Here to HELP’ to people living in flats. This scheme also excludes council and housing association tenants.

To find out more, call RNIB on 0845 330 4897 or email rnibhelp-project@rnib.org.uk

Alternatively, you can write to us at:

RNIB
Here to HELP
105 Judd Street
London
WC1H 9NE

Here to HELP case studies

Listen to how these people were supported by the Here to Help project:

Eugenie was delighted with the accessible products Here to HELP arranged for her to get.

John was helped to get extra welfare benefit for his partially sighted daughter.

Dorothy is one of thousands of people across the country being aided by the Here to HELP project.

Marjorie told us about how RNIB helped her find the confidence to cook again.

The Unseen Report, commissioned by Here to HELP, highlights some of the difficulties faced by many older people with sight problems.

More information about the Here to HELP programme

Content author: rnibhelp-project@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 20/11/2008 11:13