Warm Home Discount

Joyous04

Hi I need some advice and if necessary financial help. I have been pretty much housebound since March 2020 since losing my job, covid restrictions/my health conditions and disabilities, losing my mum, my operation etc. Anyway I use to get Warm Home Discount but when government changed it last year to having the house energy rating thing, I lost it as I don't have one. I live in shared ownership and can't afford to pay to have rating certificate done and ha won't pay for it as my responsibility. So lost out last year and this year too so struggling to pay my bills and they take £142 pm out my benefits for my gas/electric for small 2 bed mid terrace. Can anyone help me get the rating done and/or help towards this winters bills please? I have already had household fund money to pay for food and other bills few months ago so can't go back there. Thank you.

Kimi87

Have you checked again this year, as they have tweaked the criteria slightly with more properties qualifying. 

https://www.gov.uk/check-if-youre-eligible-for-warm-home-discount

Getting an EPC done will likely make no difference. EPC gets mentioned a lot but it is only one of the data points that is used in the calculation. 
Frankly an EPC is most useful for the consumer as it contains the age and floor space of property. 
My flat doesn't have one I used a neighbours EPC to work out mine. Neither of us qualify for the WHD. 

As for bills, how do you currently pay?

I personally always steer clear of fixed direct debit and pay by variable direct debit (my supplier didn't offer this option so I changed to one who did). 
I get the DD discount still but only pay for what I use. Obviously you do have to budget alot more in the winter than the summer. I find it helpful to put money aside throughout Spring /Summer/Autumn so an extra pot of money is available for winter.

Scope are offering a specialist energy advice service:
https://www.scope.org.uk/disability-energy-support/ 

poppy123456

I agree that you don't need an EPC to be entitled to the WHD. If you qualify then you will be contacted automatically.

Joyous04

I have not heard anything and when I went onto the site and did their test, it said I wasn’t eligible due to my house being built since 1990. I don't understand....

poppy123456

It really depends on the size and age of the home you live in. As it wasn't built until 1990 then there's less chance of you being entitled to it. Unfortunately, even though the lowered the threshold this year, there will still be some that will miss out.

Have you tried contacting scope's energy support, i've heard good things about them.

Joyous04

Yes made an application thank you