Skip to main content
Menu
Donate

Information on staying safe and warm after a bereavement

Everyone should be able to stay safe and warm, but this is even more important if you are grieving.

Winter can be hard. Cold weather and dark days can keep us indoors for longer, making us feel worried about staying well and managing energy costs.

This page aims to help prepare both you and your home for the colder months. It also points you towards free support that is available if you need a bit of extra help to stay safe and warm.

Why is it important to stay safe and warm?

Staying warm and cosy is more important than ever during the colder months. As we spend more time indoors, worries about rising energy costs and heating your home safely can add extra stress. Staying warm isn’t just about comfort. It’s also vital for your health and wellbeing.

Grief can weaken your immune system, making it harder to fight off illnesses. Staying warm helps protect you from coughs, colds and other infections.

The recommended temperatures for your home are:

  • Main living area: 21°C
  • Minimum home temperature: 18°C

Sign up for free Safe and Warm emails

Get bite-sized Safe and Warm support straight to your inbox

After a bereavement, many people face changes that make it harder to keep their home safe and warm, such as:

  • Having less money, if the person who died contributed financially or received benefits you shared
  • Uncertainty about managing bills or repairs, especially if the person who has died used to handle these tasks
  • Unpaid bills or debts related to their illness or death, such as healthcare or legal costs
  • Poor mental health linked to grief, which can make it difficult to manage practical tasks like paying bills or maintaining your home

I never had to deal with money, and was hopeless. So I was stuck when I had to sort everything out. It was a nightmare.

Download our Safe and Warm guide

Our Safe and Warm guide offers support to those you care about. It’s full of simple, effective ways to help them stay safe, warm and worry-free in the colder months.

Back to top

Information on staying safe and warm

Illustration of bank note and coins
Help paying your energy bills after a bereavement
If you're struggling to pay your energy bills after a bereavement you are not alone. Find out what help might be available to you.
illustration of steaming cup of coffee
Tips for reducing your heating bill
Keeping your heating bill managable isn't always easy. Here we've put together some low-cost tips and advice which could help you.
Illustration of a carbon monoxide monitor
Keeping your home safe after a bereavement
When you’re grieving, looking after and repairing things around the house can be hard.  Take a look at our guidance on keeping your home safe.
Illustration of a clipboard and pen, with a checklist
Join the Priority Services Register after a bereavement
Find out how you can get exra support from your gas, electricity or water provider after a bereavement.
Illustration of a smartphone
Safe and warm: Useful contacts
Useful organisations and contacts that can support you to stay safe and warm after a bereavement.
Illustration of a hand writing in a book
Share your experience
Help us improve our safe and warm hub by sharing your pesonal experience.

Share this page

Do you know someone who would find this helpful?

Copy link Share by email

More information and advice

Managing your money after a bereavement
Guidance on managing your money and getting financial support after a bereavement.
Who to inform when someone dies
Our guide on who you need to contact and formally notify when a friend or relative has died, including which organisations you have to contact.
How can I cope with grief?
The death of someone can be overwhelming and you may feel a mix of emotions. There are things you can do and people who can support you through your bereavement.
Safe and Warm PDF guide cover SGN and Sue Ryder partnership
Download the Safe and Warm guide
Download our Safe and Warm guide to help you offer support to those you care about.
An illustration of a person using their laptop, with text saying 'Support' on their screen
Sign up for free Safe and Warm emails
A practical guide to help people you care about to stay safe and warm this winter. Includes tips for heating, damp and financial support.
A smiling man and woman snuggle under a blanket on a sofa.
Staying safe and warm - information and support
Whether you have a terminal illness or are experiencing grief, these resources will help you get the support you need to stay safe and warm this Winter.