Tomorrow is the start of national Warm Homes Week. STEPHEN LEWIS finds some helpful advice for pensioners who want the best deal on heating their homes.

Cold can be a killer. Every winter, thousands of frail elderly people die or become seriously ill because their homes are not warm enough.

Figures show that England has the highest rate of cold deaths among people aged 65-74 in Europe - and that elderly people are more likely to die from the cold in London than in parts of Finland.

The tragedy is that for many elderly people help with those heating bills is available - if only they knew how to get it.

There is the Government's winter fuel payment of £200, of course - up from £100 last year - which goes to everyone of pensionable age.

Then there is the Home energy Efficiency Scheme. People on low incomes or certain benefits can claim up to £2,000 for schemes such as home insulation and heating improvement - important, because better home insulation and more efficient heating mean you can keep your home warm more cheaply.

Now there is more help at hand. Electricity and power companies are lining up to provide their own discount schemes.

Eastern Energy, a nationwide supplier, is offering a new service for pensioners called StayWarm. It means by making a regular, fixed payment, pensioners can keep their homes warm throughout the winter, safe in the knowledge the amount they have to pay will stay the same no matter how severe the cold.

Yorkshire Electricity has this year launched a similar plan of its own - HEATplan. As well as fixed payments however cold the weather, it includes a free energy efficiency assessment of your home and a benefits health check.

Some local councils offer their own assistance schemes, and companies like British Gas offer a number of benefits such as free gas safety checks. British Gas is also donating £4m in a two-year partnership with Help the Aged to improve the quality of older people's lives.

All of these schemes - and others like them - are good: but which do you qualify for and which will benefit you most? That's the $64,000 question.

Jack Hoose, installation manager of the York Energy Savers, which is part of the York Energy Efficiency Advice Centre, admits there are a bewildering number of schemes available - and the one that will suit you best will depend on your individual circumstances.

Rather than ringing around every supplier, he says, the best way to make sure you get the best deal and claim all the benefits you're entitled to is to call the York and North Yorkshire Energy Efficiency Advice Centre. They will be able to advise you.

"That's the simple solution," Jack said. "Some people may not qualify for grants but there are also discount schemes for everybody. We can talk you through the options."

The Energy Efficiency Advice Centre is on 0800 512012. For information on Eastern Energy's StayWarm scheme, contact freephone 0800 1694 694. Yorkshire Electricity's energy advice helpline is on 0800 591 748, British Gas on 0845 609 1122. The Winter Fuel Payments helpline is 0845 9151515.