National Concessionary Fuel Scheme

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1. Overview

You could get free solid fuel or a cash allowance for fuel if you鈥檙e an ex-employee of the National Coal Board (NCB) or British Coal Corporation (BCC).

You need to qualify to get the fuel allowance through the National Concessionary Fuel Scheme (NCFS), and you can only get the cash allowance if you鈥檙e already getting fuel through the scheme.

You might be eligible for the allowance if you鈥檙e the widow or widower of an ex-employee, if the employee qualified for the NCFS.

2. What you'll get

Solid fuel

If you qualify for the allowance you鈥檒l get a delivery of solid fuel every 4 or 5 weeks, depending on where you live.

You might be able to change to 鈥榗ash in lieu鈥� (or a cash allowance) if you already get fuel through the scheme and your circumstances have not changed.

You will need to return a Certificate of Continued Entitlement each year to keep your allowance.

How you鈥檙e paid

The cash allowance is paid every 3 months into your bank or building society account.

3. Eligibility

Contact the National Concessionary Fuel Office (NCFO) to check if you鈥檙e eligible.

You might be eligible for the National Concessionary Fuel Scheme (NCFS) if you鈥檙e:

  • an ex-employee of the National Coal Board (NCB) or British Coal Corporation (BCC)
  • a widow or widower of an ex-employee who would have been eligible

NCFO Helpline
[email protected]
Telephone: 0345 759 0529 or 0370 386 9961
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm
Find out about call charges

Change of circumstances

Your allowance might be affected if your circumstances change, including:

  • who owns or rents your property changes
  • you change your heating arrangements
  • you remarry, marry or move in with a partner (widows, widowers and dependents only)
  • who lives in your home changes (family or lodgers moving in)
  • you take up employment or self-employment

You need to inform the NCFO of any changes in circumstances as your allowance can change. If your allowance goes down, any overpayments must be repaid in full.

4. How to claim

Contact the National Concessionary Fuel Office (NCFO) to apply.

National Concessionary Fuel Office \
[email protected]
Telephone: 0345 759 0529 or 0370 386 9961
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm
Find out about call charges

National Concessionary Fuel Office
PO Box 64
Sheffield
S1 1XL

Applying on behalf of someone else

You can apply for the fuel allowance on behalf of someone else if they鈥檙e unable to.

You鈥檒l need to get authorisation by having one of:

  • a letter from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) stating that you are authorised to act on their behalf
  • a photocopy of your Power of Attorney
  • a letter signed by the person you are applying for stating that you are looking after their affairs

If payments are paid into a different account from the person getting the allowance, you need:

  • a photocopy of your Power of Attorney
  • a letter from DWP stating that you are looking after their financial affairs
  • a form from the NFCO signed by the person you are applying for

You need to contact the NFCO for the form or 鈥榤andate鈥�.

Changing your delivery

Contact CPL Distribution on 0345 521 5214 to change your fuel delivery date and/or the amount of fuel you want delivered.

Find out about call charges.

Contact the NCFO to change the type of fuel you get. You can only get 1 type of fuel delivered at a time. Get advice about the types of fuel to use from the .

You cannot sell or give away unused fuel. If you change your type of solid fuel appliance you must refuse deliveries and left over fuel must be collected by the distributor.

Switching from fuel to cash allowance

Contact NCFO with your bank or building society account details to switch from fuel to cash. You can switch back to solid fuel but only after 12 months.