State pensioners being handed seven freebies worth £2,471 to stay warm in November

State pensioners can claim £2,000 worth of energy bill freebies as millions lose the £300 winter fuel payment. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will let state pensioners come forward for payments worth THOUSANDS.

The Ofgem Energy Price Cap, which sets the maximum amount that suppliers can charge for each unit of energy used in Great Britain, goes up on October 1. This is around a 10% rise on the previous price cap, and will add an extra £12 to the average monthly bill or £150 a year, according to the energy regulator.

It's a brutal blow to state pensioners who've cruelly had the £300 Winter Fuel Allowance snatched. Millions of pensioners have lost the Winter Fuel Payment, worth up to £300, as confirmed in Rachel Reeves’ Budget, which she delivered last Wednesday.

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Free electric blanket - £20

Octopus is giving out electric blankets to vulnerable customers, especially those who are elderly or disabled. Energy customers can get support depending on who their supplier is if their struggling with their bills. For example, Octopus Energy is offering customers free electric blankets through its £30million Octopus Assist fund.

The energy firm is dishing out the money-saving gadgets to the most vulnerable, meaning those most likely to receive help are the elderly and those with mobility issues or other medical conditions. Contact Octopus to find out if you're eligible for support.

Commenting on the measures, Mario Lupori, director at Octopus Energy Group, said: "We know many people are worried about the costs of heating their homes over winter. An electric blanket means you heat the human, not the home - staying warm for as little as 3p an hour."

Free hot drinks - £2

Greggs will give you a free hot drink for downloading its app while Morrisons offers unlimited refills to customers who buy any self-serve hot drink at the café, with prices starting at £1.85.

Morrisons Cafés offer great breakfast, lunch and dinner options without having to break the bank. For example, breakfast sandwiches and a hot drink cost just £4.25 and an adult sandwich meal deal is £6.50. Plus, kids eat free every day, seven days a week when customers purchase an adult meal costing £5 or over, available for any child aged under 16 in Morrisons Cafés nationwide.

Becky Wilson, Morrisons Café Buyer, said: “We are always looking for ways to give our customers more reasons to visit our Cafés – and the Winter Refills Allowance does just that. As well as the quality food at affordable prices, our Cafés are a space for communities to connect, work or relax, and they can now do so over a warm mug of their choosing.”

Free food

From food to furniture and clothing to books, Olio is the feel-good way to declutter. it says: "Olio also works with businesses to redistribute their unsold or unserved food. We pair trained volunteers with local shops, cafes and offices who pick up whatever food is left at the end of each day."

Tesco and Olio have partnered so that Olio Food Waste Heroes can come to the rescue and ensure that as much good food as possible gets saved from the bin.

Warm spaces

Many people are now living in cold homes. An estimated one in four households are in fuel poverty and nearly half of low-income households are living in energy-leaking homes. This has led to people taking extreme measures to save energy: leaving their home during the day to avoid heating it, heating only a single room, or even switching off utilities all together.

Charities and community groups have stepped up to support people through this hard, expensive winter. Some are helping people to reduce energy costs by draughtproofing homes, running home energy audits, or providing blankets and heaters for people to take home. Many are sharing money saving tips, lending energy-saving cookers, or helping people to maximise their income.

Free insulation - £400

The Great British Insulation Scheme is open to homes that have an energy performance ­certificate rating of D or below. You can check yours at gov.uk/find- energy-certificate. The scheme is also restricted to those in council tax bands A to D in England or A to E in Scotland and Wales, which are smaller prop­erties.

Experts estimate cavity wall insulation can trim up to £400 a year from your energy bills.

Prepayment meter vouchers - £49

People may be eligible to get a voucher from the Fuel Bank Foundation to add a credit to your gas card or electricity key. The voucher – worth £30 in summer or £49 in winter – is a code sent by letter, text or email which is redeemed at the Post Office or a shop signed up to PayPoint or Payzone.

Energy grants- £2,000

Households on benefits can get help applying for free and cheap boilers through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO). It is offered on a case-by-case basis, but it can mean having a new boiler fitted, or loft or cavity wall insulation put in, often for free.

A number of energy companies are signed up to the scheme, including British Gas and EDF. As well as this, several energy firms have grant schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.

Eligibility criteria varies depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances - for example, British Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.