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Warm Home Scheme scrapped for Discretionary Group

Oxonlady

It is with great disappointment that I have discovered that from 2022 the Warm Home Scheme has been scrapped for the Discretionary Group and only remains available for Pensioners. It's therefore now totally age-based as opposed to also alleviating the cost of fuel burden for those on ESA and DLA, or PIP.
When I rang the Eligibility Helpline to ascertain this, they simply said that it is new government policy and the only way to challenge it would be to write to my MP.
This I did and my MP has kindly put my query forward to the Energy Department.

I consider it unfair that the government should have removed this discount that the Discretionary Group has appreciated for the last five years or so, at a time when it's needed the most.
Is anyone else having problems with this? I can't be the only one?

If I do receive a reply from the government, I will report back.

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Comments

janer1967

Hi there

The eligibility changed and yes core group is pension age however people on eligible benefits may still be entitled but it also goes on the age and size of your property and fuel consumption which is where most people have missed out

There are quite a few threads relating to this you might want to read

poppy123456

The low income group known as "core group 2" part of the criteria is you need to be claiming a means tested benefit, as well as the criteria mentioned by Janer. See link. https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme/low-income

There's no appeal route for this, as far as i'm aware.

You can check if you qualify here. https://www.gov.uk/check-if-youre-eligible-for-warm-home-discount

Oxonlady

Hi @poppy123456 and @janer1967, apparently I don't qualify because of the EPC Certificate, even though I meet the other conditions (means-tested benefits etc). So the advisor at the Eligibility Helpline told me to contact my MP, which is what I have done.

janer1967

I am the same tbh I haven't ever claimed it as I didn't know anything about it until I joined scope

poppy123456

They look at age and size of the property you live in. You don't need an EPC certificate.

Hannah_Alumni

Hello @Oxonlady

Have you thought about reaching out to Scope's Disability Energy Support for additional advice?

Oxonlady

Hi @Hannah_Scope, I believe that this may be another case of the government discriminating against those on Legacy Benefits. I have heard from a lady who is on Universal Credit and she's been deemed eligible for the Warm Home Scheme.
I still don't understand why I'm not eligible when I've been getting it for years...
Has anyone from Scope looked into this?

SueHeath

I'm not claiming it myself, but there have been a few petitions and letters on my face book feed that i've signed x

Hannah_Alumni

Hello @Oxonlady

Our amazing Campaigns department are on it. At the moment, there is an open letter to Ask the Government to stop the struggle with energy bills. We also have another thread about it, if you wanted to join in on the conversation.

Did you reach out to Scope's Disability Energy Support?

poppy123456

Oxonlady said:

Hi @Hannah_Scope, I believe that this may be another case of the government discriminating against those on Legacy Benefits. I have heard from a lady who is on Universal Credit and she's been deemed eligible for the Warm Home Scheme.
I still don't understand why I'm not eligible when I've been getting it for years...
Has anyone from Scope looked into this?

Again, you're misunderstanding the criteria for the WHD. No one on legacy benefits are being discriminated against and lots of people claiming legacy benefits have been entitled to the WHD this year, the same as those claiming UC.

Claiming benefits isn't the only criteria this year because they also look at the size and age of the property you live in.

NotReally

poppy123456 said:

Again, you're misunderstanding the criteria for the WHD. No one on legacy benefits are being discriminated against and lots of people claiming legacy benefits have been entitled to the WHD this year, the same as those claiming UC.

Claiming benefits isn't the only criteria this year because they also look at the size and age of the property you live in.

And this is a massive change from previous years. I hope who ever came up with this change is proud of themselves, because I don't think I've ever heard of a more insidious and nasty manner in which to marginalise the worst off in society in the name of "cost".

I have always received WHD in the past, but not this year. Never mind that I'm fighting black mould on the ceilings, walls, and around the windows, and trying to heat the house is akin to trying to fill a sieve with water. Oh, but my home is "really energy efficient" because it has a "C" rating ... what an utter load of bovine excretement.

It breaks my heart to think of those with similar property issues, along with similar financial constraints, but also having children or elderly people.

There is absolutely no doubt that people will have died this winter because of this change.