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Even in a heatwave it’s worth keeping tabs on winter pressure changes, writes Neil Bateman.

Many of my clients find it difficult to heat their homes properly and not only spend much of their money trying to but are often ill in the winter. What can be done about this?

In the middle of summer, it is easy to forget that prolonged exposure to low temperatures is a major factor in early deaths among poor people. It is also proven to cause and worsen respiratory and cardiac problems.

Indeed, a major contributory factor to the annual winter pressures crisis that the NHS and social care services suffer is fuel poverty. So any health or social care strategy on winter pressures should include sorting out fuel poverty - and please not the stale, old advice to wrap up warm.

One approach that is fundamental to addressing fuel poverty is income maximisation. Making sure that people at risk from the cold - who are not just older people - claim all the benefits they are entitled to is a basic building block. The improvements that have been made in means-tested benefits for older people and for children are a real step in the right direction.

Another tool for tackling fuel poverty is the home energy efficiency scheme (Hees). This is run by government but in practice the day-to-day work is carried out under contract, being administered by private company the Energy Action Grants Agency (Eaga).

Hees has been massively revamped in the last year, and more people may well now qualify for grants. Also people who had grants under the old system may qualify for extended grants under the new one - for example, they could now increase loft insulation to an eight-inch thickness, whereas before they.might have been limited to, say, four.

The new Hees can also provide new heating controls, draughtproofing, cavity wall insulation, pipe insulation and, in some cases, installation of central heating or upgrades to existing heating systems. The precise items that can be grant- aided depend on a combination of income and the actual heating efficiency needs of a property. The scheme is open to tenants and owner-occupiers alike.

Addressing fuel poverty also, of course, brings with it direct environmental benefits - fuel-inefficient properties are a major contributor to global warming.

Devolution has added a complication to Hees, as there are now four schemes operating in the UK. Although they are all broadly similar, certain details vary within the UK. For example, in Scotland, the Warm Deal for Scotland enables anyone over 60 to get a grant of up to £125, and for anyone of any age on a disability or income-based benefit - including tax credits - to get a grant of up to £500.

In England, the criteria for people over 60 are tighter, as they have to be on an income-based benefit but may get up to £2,000 or up to £1,000 if they are on a disability-related benefit but not also on a means-tested benefit. Householders under 60 can also get up to £1,000 if they are on an income-based benefit or disability-related benefit.

In Wales, the maximum grant for anyone of any age on an income-based or disability-related benefit is £2,700, with a grant of up to £175 for anyone over 60.

And in Northern Ireland, the Domestic Energy Efficiency Scheme maximum is £2,000, but households in the private sector on a disability-related benefit can also get a lower grant of £750.

Because of these differences, it is best to get details of the specific schemes operating in your area. You can do this by visiting Eaga’s website - www.eaga.co.uk - which not only sets out the different schemes and offers downloadable leaflets, but also carries information on local authority and other grant schemes to supplement the Hees.

You can obtain details by ringing Eaga directly. The phone number for the scheme in England is 0800 952 0600; Scotland 0800 072 0150; Wales 0800 316 2815; and Northern Ireland 0800 181 667.