Warm home discount England/Wales only!

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  • JessieJ
    JessieJ Online Community Member Posts: 925 Trailblazing
    It also goes on high bills as well, mine aren't, as I can't afford to put the heating on. So, I daresay, I won't be getting the letter. I will be giving them a ring still.
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    JessieJ said:
    It also goes on high bills as well, mine aren't, as I can't afford to put the heating on.
    That's not exactly correct. They do not take into consideration your actual bills or how often you put the heating on. They look at the size of your property and then work out how much the average cost would be for a property of your size.

    The good news this year is that they've reduced the property sizes so more people will be entitled compared to last year.
  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 5,404 Championing
    edited October 2023
    I still don't qualify myself (I have an illness which means I struggle with my body temperature, and my 1 bed flat has large rooms with high ceilings, bay windows, very cold bedroom so it takes LOADS of heating, way more than the 3 bed semi I Ieft last year) but am genuinely really glad that more people qualify this year
  • JessieJ
    JessieJ Online Community Member Posts: 925 Trailblazing
    Thanks, Poppy, here's hoping that covers me. 🤞
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    Kimmy87 said:
    I still don't qualify myself (I have an illness which means I struggle with my body temperature, and my 1 bed flat has large rooms with high ceilings, bay windows, very cold bedroom so it takes LOADS of heating, way more than the 3 bed semi I Ieft last year) but am genuinely really glad that more people qualify this year

    You don't know that for sure yet because they've lowered the threshold. The eligibility checker that was available last year isn't available at the moment so there's no way of checking. It's still early days for them to contact people.
  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 5,404 Championing
    edited October 2023
    poppy123456 said:
    Kimmy87 said:
    I still don't qualify myself (I have an illness which means I struggle with my body temperature, and my 1 bed flat has large rooms with high ceilings, bay windows, very cold bedroom so it takes LOADS of heating, way more than the 3 bed semi I Ieft last year) but am genuinely really glad that more people qualify this year

    You don't know that for sure yet because they've lowered the threshold. The eligibility checker that was available last year isn't available at the moment so there's no way of checking. It's still early days for them to contact people.
    I downloaded the updated spreadsheet and looked up my property size/age/type on that.

    I think the link was on another forum from last year, but the document stated winter 23/24 unless amended, and I could see more flats qualified compared to last year so it had been updated. 
  • Bettahm
    Bettahm Online Community Member Posts: 1,441 Championing
    Octopus have checked my account and I did get it last year, they just emailed me. She said I should get a letter by mid Dec this year and to contact them if not received by then.
    Pretty sure I'm eligible now though.
  • andrewkuk
    andrewkuk Scope Member Posts: 79 Contributor
    Hi - I received the warm front grant for many years via Eon now Eon Next. I've checked with Eon Next and the Government warm front helpline and I no longer qualify! I only have a very small ill health pension and ESA. My income is well below the level required but they say I'm on the wrong type of ESA. I've contacted DWP and each time (after at least 50 minutes waiting on average!) and they say I'm on contributing based but then I called back to check and they say it income income-related. EonNext is less than helpful. The warm front government helpline says our house is super efficient. It's a 1950 mid-terrace with very old uPVC windows and old boiler. It's hard to find the effort to try and sit on the phone for hours going around in circles.
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    @andrewkuk the warm front grant was an energy efficient grant. This is completely different to the Warm Home Discount. 

    For the WHD if you live in England or Wales you must be claiming a means tested benefit, it also depends on the size of your home. 

    Seems like there’s some confusion with your ESA. If your ESA is the old contributions based whether there’s any entitlement to the Income Related top up will depend on your circumstances. Your pension will reduce any entitlement £1 for £1. As well as living with a partner that works. For these reasons they maybe no entitlement to any Income Related top up. 

    I’ve also noticed that in a previous thread you said that you’ve received a letter about managed migration to UC as you’re currently claiming Tax credits. Tax credits is one of the benefits that may qualify you for the warm home discount. As mention throughout the thread unless you live in Scotland you do not need to apply. If entitled you will receive it automatically and you will be contacted either by the Government or your energy supplier. You can see the criteria here https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme/low-income-England-Wales
  • andrewkuk
    andrewkuk Scope Member Posts: 79 Contributor
    Thanks for your reply. We have no other income and have always qualified before. We actually have less money coming in now than we have ever had, but seem to be losing all kinds of support.
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    andrewkuk said:
    Thanks for your reply. We have no other income and have always qualified before. We actually have less money coming in now than we have ever had, but seem to be losing all kinds of support.
    The rules for England and Wales changed last year for the warm home discount. Last year the threshold was rather high and I didn’t qualify. Thankfully I do this year. 

    This year they’ve lowered the threshold so you may qualify. You just need to wait and if you do then you will be contacted. 

    Just so that you’re aware it’s not money thats paid into your bank. It’s put onto your energy account if you pay be DD or paid as either vouchers or put onto your electric meter if you have prepayment meter. 
  • 2oldcodgers
    2oldcodgers Posts: 739 Connected
    andrewkuk said:
     EonNext is less than helpful. 
    I agree, I already have a substantial credit balance with them and for the past 9 months my gas and electricity bills have been less than the monthly DD that I pay. 
    Getting  my credit balance back is impossible. Yet, if I fixed my monthly payment it would be the same as I pay now AND they would return ALL of the credit to me! Get that for logic
  • andrewkuk
    andrewkuk Scope Member Posts: 79 Contributor
    They have asked us to up our direct debit even though we are in credit and luckily have never owned any money to them. They were much better when they were Eon! 

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