Keeping warm this winter

It's so important to keep your home warm and dry for the health of your family. A cold, damp home can lead to health problems and make existing health issues worse. The ideal temperature for your home is between 18-20 degrees. If you can't heat all the all the rooms you use heat the living room during the day and bedrooms before you go to bed.

Handy tips: 
Keep draughts out: Older homes can sometimes be very draughty around windows and doors, make your own draught stopping 'snakes' from old stockings by stuffing in old socks, cushion filling or newspaper
Keep the warmth in: Open the curtains to let the sun in and then close them before it is dark to trap any heat inside and don't let it escape out the window. 
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How can Work and Income help
If you need assistance to pay for additional heating during the winter you may eligible for help from WINZ 
​The following is from www.msd.govt.nz
Advance on benefit
If there is something you need and you can't afford to pay for it right now, like an overdue power bill or a heater for your home, you may be able to get some of your benefit paid ahead of time. You will need to pay this back and there are conditions, so please discuss this with your case manager.
Special Needs Grant
This payment can help with urgent things that you really don't have any other way to pay for, like emergency medical care, bedding, or food bills. You won't usually have to pay this back but there are conditions so please discuss this with your case manager.
Temporary Additional Support
If you are suffering hardship and need help with your essential living costs, like power bills or accommodation costs, and you have no other way of meeting those costs, please talk to us. This support is time limited and has conditions.
Recoverable Assistance Payment
This is for people not receiving a main benefit. If you need something but can't afford to pay for it right now, like a heater or overdue power bill, you may be able to get this assistance. You will need to pay it back and there are conditions.
Disability Allowance
This allowance can help with extra costs that you, your partner, or child may have because of a disability. It can help pay for things like regular visits to a health practitioner, medicines, or extra heating for your home.
Accommodation Supplement
This payment can help you with rent, board, or the cost of owning a home. You may be able to get it if your income and cash assets are lower than a certain amount, but not if you are renting a property from Housing New Zealand.


 **The information provided here is for information purposes only, and is to the best of our knowledge and as such should not be perceived as professional advice in regards to health, finances or any other field. This blog is opinion-based and may or may not reflect the ideas, ideologies or points of view of any organisation we are affiliated with.**