how does 'Warm Front' grant work? Urgent advice needed

foreign_correspondent

Hi,

I wonder if anyone can advise - my 94 y/o gran is due to come home from hospital this week - she refuses all offers of help, and has also refused to have central heating fitted - she has old storage heaters. We have long suspected they are not up to the job, but she insists she is fine, and is warm enough....

She also tends to switch storage heaters off at night (when they need to be on to charge up!!!) as she believes they will 'burn the house down' - she refuses to believe this is not the case, and that hypothermia is a far more realistic and worrying risk.

We have been into her house this week to clean and put up a thermometer - with all the storage heaters on, the temperateure is not much about 50 degrees (60 degrees is 'risk of hypothermia' temperature apparently) so clearly, it is not safe for her to be at home in these temperatures.

I have power of attorney for her, and have applied for a Warm Front grant for her, and she should be eligable. However, they also say they have a backlog.

How does the warm front grant work - presuming I can convince her to have new heating fitted, can we get it fitted and claim the money retrospectively, or not?

If we have to wait for the grant, do they give you the funds to emply your own workmen, or do they fit it themselves?

In the meantime, does anyone have any advice about other forms of heating we could use - I have considered whether there is anything we could put in that she could not switch off, but apparently all appliances have to have a switch on/off nearby...

Any advice greatly appreciated,

thanks

FC

ETA - also, I am wondering what the likely cost will be of installing central heating - any rough ideas? She has a three bedroomed house, with two living rooms, bathroom and kitchen downstairs, and a downstairs hallway.

codwidow

Hello

We were given a Warm Front Grant in 2009 as I was made redundant and our household income dropped significantly.

The amount of funds eligible per applicant is now £3,500, this can be used for a new boiler and possibly radiators, insulation etc. I dont think you could get the heating fitted and retrospectively claim it back as they employ their own engineers to repair and fit everything and guarantee all work. The only snag is the waiting time, our boiler broke just after I was made redundant, we had it fixed temporarily by a family friend but Warmfront were a real help, we had to wait about 6 weeks, which is very good apparently, I think if they know your in bad way they will try and accommodate you, but with the current weather they may well be backed up. It might be better for your relative to stay with you or elswhere for the time being.

I dont know about a whole new system but a new boiler is about 2k I think, with a regular plumber.

foreign_correspondent

Thanks codwidow - we have been thinking about her staying elsewhere, but she desperately wants to go home, and none of us have a suitable home (ie. with ground floor bathroom and bedroom etc) - we have considered a nursing home as a temporary stop gap, but don't think she would consent to going there either...

SailorSam

I thought the grant had been increased to £5k, not sure though.
Warmfront will send a surveyor out to see what is needed and what they can do, you will need to show him any benefit details to prove you are entitled to help, althou there is a waiting time, they put those in most need to the top of the list.
When the grant is given it's not just to the person but also the property, for example lets say it costs £3k to do loft insulation; door and window draught proofing; and heating. You will have £500 in credit that you can use in the future, maybe if the boiler was to break down in 10yrs, you'd get £500 towards another. Even if at this time you lived in the house and you in your own right, were on benefits and entitled to a grant, they'll not give you the full £3.5 but only £500, because the property has already had it's share.

chris_n_tj

FC we used warmfront last year for an elderly friend.Because she already had old storage heaters installed she was told they were a form of central heating. So no GCH (I know i thought it odd at the time) Anyway they replaced her old storage heaters with new ones. I will admit they are very good, they are not a patch on GCH. I only hope warmfront have changed their minds on this rule.
As for getting the heating done then reclaiming it back. Thats a no no I am afraid.
warmfront have their own fitters, some are better than others, my friend was unlucky. Please check out the forums for warmfront it will open your eyes to some of the many problems. I wish I had found these before we contacted warmfront for our friend.
Have you thought of contacting your local council t see if they have any funding you could apply for. They usually do have for things like this.
Also have a word with the nursing staff, you will be surprised at the help they can get for you and your gran.
The only thing I can think of to help for the time being is those electric oil filled heaters. If your gran turns them off at least the hold heat for a good few hours.
The cost of a new heating system where I am is about 3k maybe same for yuor area. As I said earlier phone your local council tomorrow and ask. They will put you onto the right people. Explain about your gran.
If I can can help in any other please shout.
Chris n TJ
PS please please check the older threads about warmfront. Then at least you are forewarned
FC I did mean warm front I get them both mixed up sorry

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=693277&highlight=warmfront&page=4

joop1977

Try contacting your local council to see if your gran qualifys for a council home improvement grant(not associated with warmfront).

juno

My daddy is waiting in the backlog too

So we can freeze now, and when the summer comes and we don't need it, we can have heating