A scheme offering Newport residents the chance to access green home energy upgrades has reopened for applications.
Newport City Council has selected iChoosr, who are independent experts in group-buying, to bring the Switch Together scheme to the city’s homeowners.
Switch Together, which was formerly known as Solar Together, previously offered residents the chance to join together in a group-buying scheme to purchase solar panels.
Now, the relaunched scheme is offering access to a much wider range of green home energy solutions, including heat pumps, battery storage, electric vehicle chargers, and smart energy tariffs, in addition to solar panels.
The new scheme brings more solutions and more support options to people through the same trusted service. By joining the scheme, households can benefit from:
comprehensive green home solutions – solar panels, battery storage, heat pumps, and energy tariffs in a single programme.
expert guidance – support from registration through installation, ensuring residents make informed decisions for their homes.
group-buying savings – reduced costs thanks to community-scale purchasing power.
reliable, sustainable energy – high-quality installations from vetted suppliers that help cut carbon emissions.
Registrations close on Friday 27 February. You can register at https://switchtogether.co.uk/solar-and-battery/newport.
Registration is free, quick and with no-commitment to buy anything.
How does it work?
Residents can register their interest online to become part of the group, with no obligation to buy anything.
Switch Together bring approved suppliers together to bid for the work. The more households taking part, the bigger the potential savings.
After the auction, registered households will be sent a personalised recommendation.
The decision to proceed is then yours. You don’t have any obligation to continue.
If you do accept the recommendation, your approved supplier will carry out surveys and agree an installation date with you.
The scheme is being run across the southeast, in partnership between councils and iChoosr.
“We’re pleased to be taking part in Switch Together once more,” said Councillor Yvonne Forsey, cabinet member for climate change.
“Last year’s take-up was good, and we’re pleased to be offering residents this opportunity once again to take advantage of the group-buying scheme.
“It’s fantastic to see more upgrade options being made available this time too, to help residents make even greater use of the scheme.”
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/someone-holding-canadian-banknotes-illustrative.jpg?id=54527880&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=117%2C0%2C118%2C0"/><br/><br/><p>As we make our way through November, it's time for Quebecers to keep an eye out for the latest round of <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/quebec-cra-benefit-payment-dates-november-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">federal government benefits paying out this month</a>, including those from <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/old-age-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Old Age Security</a> (OAS).</p><p>OAS is a federal pension program designed to help Canadians aged 65 and older manage their everyday expenses. It's a crucial support system for seniors across the country.</p><p>If you're eligible, your OAS payment for November 2024 is expected to arrive next week, offering a financial boost to help cover monthly costs. It's worth checking the eligibility requirements, as some recipients are automatically enrolled while others need to apply for this <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/government-payments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">government payment</a>.</p><p>Here's everything you need to know about OAS payments for November, including who qualifies, how it works and how much you could receive.<span></span></p><h3>What is Old Age Security?</h3><br/><p>Old Age Security (OAS) is a monthly payment from the federal government, created to support Canadians aged 65 and up. It's a vital program aimed at helping retirees manage their living expenses. In many cases, eligible individuals are automatically enrolled to start receiving payments as soon as they hit the qualifying age.</p><p><a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp/old-age-security.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More about OAS</a></p><h3>Who is eligible for Old Age Security?</h3><br/><p>One of the great things about Old Age Security is that your work history doesn't impact your eligibility. You can qualify whether you're retired, still working, or have never been employed.</p><p>To be eligible, you must:</p><ul><li>Be at least 65 years old.</li><li>Be a Canadian citizen or legal resident at the time your pension is approved.</li><li>Have lived in Canada for at least 10 years since turning 18.</li></ul><p>If you're living abroad, you can still qualify if you were a Canadian citizen or legal resident before leaving and spent at least 20 years in Canada after turning 18.</p><p><a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp/old-age-security/eligibility.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More about OAS eligibility</a></p><h3>How to apply for Old Age Security</h3><br/><p>If you're turning 65 and haven't heard from Service Canada yet about Old Age Security, you may need to apply. Some people are enrolled automatically, but if you don't receive a notice by the month after your 64th birthday, it's best to submit an application.</p><p>You can apply online through your <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/my-account.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">My Service Canada Account</a> or by completing and mailing a <a href="https://catalogue.servicecanada.gc.ca/content/EForms/en/CallForm.html?Lang=en&PDF=ISP-3550.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">paper form</a>. For online applications, make sure you have all your personal details ready, as the system won't let you save and return later. Paper applications require certified copies of necessary documents and can be <a href="https://catalogue.servicecanada.gc.ca/content/EForms/en/ReturningtheForm/isp.html?wbdisable=true" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mailed</a> or brought to a <a href="http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/tbsc-fsco/sc-hme.jsp?lang=eng" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Service Canada office</a>.</p><p><a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp/old-age-security/apply.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More about applying for OAS</a></p><h3>How much is Old Age Security in Canada</h3><br/><p>For November 2024, the maximum Old Age Security (OAS) payment is <strong>$727.67</strong> per month for people aged 65 to 74, while those 75 and older can receive up to <strong>$800.44</strong> monthly.</p><p>The exact amount you'll get depends on your income. To qualify for an OAS payment, your 2023 annual net world income must be below $148,451 (ages 65 to 74) or $154,196 (ages 75+). You can use the CRA's payment calculator to get an estimate of your amount.</p><p>OAS payments are adjusted quarterly — in January, April, July, and October — to account for inflation. This ensures your November payment reflects cost-of-living increases, but don't worry, payments won't decrease if inflation drops.</p><p><a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp/old-age-security/benefit-amount.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More about OAS payment amounts</a></p><h3>Is Old Age Security taxable?</h3><br/><p>Yes, Old Age Security (OAS) payments are considered taxable income. Taxes aren't automatically deducted from your monthly payments, but you can request this by logging into your <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/my-account.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">My Service Canada Account</a> or submitting the <a href="https://catalogue.servicecanada.gc.ca/content/EForms/en/CallForm.html?Lang=en&PDF=ISP-3520OAS.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Request for Voluntary Federal Income Tax Deductions CPP/OAS form</a> to Service Canada.</p><p>If you don't arrange for monthly tax deductions, you might need to pay taxes quarterly. Residents of Canada will receive a T4 tax slip for OAS, while those living abroad will get an NR4 tax slip to use when filing their taxes.</p><p><a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp/old-age-security/while-receiving.html#h2.3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">More about OAS and your taxes</a></p><h3>When do Old Age Security payments go out?</h3><br/><p> The next Old Age Security (OAS) payment is scheduled to arrive in bank accounts on <strong>Wednesday, November 27</strong>.
</p><p>After that, the final OAS payment for 2024 will arrive on December 20.
</p><p> Here are all the other remaining OAS payment dates for the 2023 tax year:
</p><ul>
<li>January 29, 2025</li><li>February 26, 2025</li><li>March 27, 2025</li><li>April 28, 2025</li><li>May 28, 2025</li><li>June 26, 2025</li>
</ul><p>
<a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/calendar.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More about OAS payment dates</a>
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