nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

We want to hear from you: please tell us about your experience of the online community.

Warm Home Discount but not named on bill

geckobat

I've had a letter saying I'm eligible for the warm home discount, but I'm currently living with my parents and am not nor have I ever been named on the electric bill for this house.

Why have I received this letter?

I'm even more confused as it says one of the criteria is either I'm on the bill or a representative is because I'm not capable of conducting my own affairs. This is also not true. Now I'm worrying that somewhere on a government database it says this.

To add to my anxiety, I'm nervous about calling to question this because I'm worried it will somehow trigger a reassessment of my LCWRA!

I'm sorry, I'm so anxious right now. Has anyone got experience on this? Thanks for reading.

Find more posts tagged with

Comments

poppy123456

Yes, this is normal and correct. They look at the eligibility criteria of your household. If one member qualifies then the person named on the account will receive that payment.

Kimi87

They do seem to tinker a little with the eligibility criteria a bit each year 🙂

whistles

But it needs to say your household qualifies. These letters always say, you need to be named on the bill to receive payment.

I have received and thrown away numerous letters over the years because it says exactly this. I am not on the bill and it says I need to be.

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/936304#Comment_936304

This is not the case for the warm home discount and you do not need to be named on the bill or the account .

poppy123456

@Biblioklept i know the threshold was lowered last year but as far as im aware there’s no changes to the criteria this year.

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/936302#Comment_936302

Unless you live in Scotland you don’t need to apply because it’s automatically paid if you’re eligible. The criteria changed a few years ago.

geckobat

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/936362#Comment_936362

What's confusing here is that on the letter they've sent it, they list the criteria as follows:

in receipt of a qualifying benefit; and
residing in a property that is eligible; and
a customer of a supplier taking part in the scheme; and
named on the bill, or your representative is named because you lack the necessary capacity to conduct you own affairs

That last part is confusing to me, because I'm not named on the bill nor am I incapable of conducting my own affairs but it says this is included in the necessary criteria.

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/936366#Comment_936366

What qualifies you is " residing in the property that's eligible"

geckobat

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/936430#Comment_936430

I understand what you're saying and appreciate the replies, but it says 'and' seeming to imply that all four on the list are needed. Am I misunderstanding this?

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/936432#Comment_936432

You are misunderstanding it. Not all 4 needs to apply. Last year my daughter also received the same letter and she wasn't named on the energy account either because I was. She didn't actually receive it though because I was entitled to it myself. Only 1 person in the household can receive it because it's added to the energy account or added to a prepayment meter.

geckobat

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/936445#Comment_936445

Thank you for explaining. It seemed strangely worded to me and I was getting all stressed out when I read it!

whistles

I just applied online and it says not eligible.

The person named on the bill if it's not you needs to be your partner, married or otherwise as if they are.

geckobat

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/936536#Comment_936536

See this has thrown me again, because I'm single as well as not named on the bill. It's currently my parents house I'm living in, so this still makes no sense to me if it's supposed to be a partner.

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/936536#Comment_936536

Nope, not at all. For those that do not live in England are eligible if they live with someone (doesn't have to be a partner) that claims a qualifying means tested benefit. I know of many people that have received this WHD and the person named on the energy account receive no qualifying means tested benefits. They received it on behalf of the person living with them.

Kimi87

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/936299#Comment_936299

Just to clarify my post, I meant they seem to tinker with the high energy cost eligibility criteria.

whistles

So its for single qualifying people in Scotland and non single in England.

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/936683#Comment_936683

No. In Scotland the qualifying criteria is different to what it is in England/Wales. In Scotland you must be claiming a qualifying means tested benefit and you need to apply. (unless you're claiming Guaranteed Pension Credit)

In England/Wales, you do not need to apply and if your qualify you will automatically receive it either onto your energy account or on your prepayment meter/or vouchers. For England you must be claiming a qualifying means tested benefit or live with someone that does. It also depends on the size and age of the property you live in.

It makes no difference to either of them whether you're single or live with a partner.

whistles

This is what comes up on the website.

poppy123456

Yes, that's England and Wales. All I can tell you is what I've already said, they pay the WHD if a person living in the household is claiming a qualifying means tested benefit. Even if they are not named on the bill. It's been this way since the rules changed, about 3 years ago.

whistles

I guess they have changed the criteria as it states from August 2024. It said I wasn't eligible as soon as I ticked the who is named on the bill.

poppy123456

The criteria hasn't changed. The 11th August date is the date you need to be claiming qualifying means tested benefits.

I don't have any other advice to give that's different to what I've already advised.