Warm Homes Discount

50Twuncle

We meet the criteria in order to receive a £120 discount off our energy bill (income and DLA)
But "savings" are not mentioned ......
I assume that savings are not an issue with an application ?
Scottish Powers website went down - just as I was looking at it (did they pay their electricity bill ?)

andrew-b

if your on income based ESA or JSA or income support then savings have already been taken account to get those benefits. Warm home discount is £135 this year. Scottish Power don't pay out until end of march.

one gotcha to watch out for being part of the "broader group" for WHD like yourself... i was going to switch to a different company to chase the best fixed deals then had to cancel the move because i would have lost my £135 WHD discount so i can't leave before april now and can only get a fixed price deal with scottish power or else lose my £135 - not very fair.

50Twuncle

andrew-b wrote: »

if your on income based ESA or JSA or income support then savings have already been taken account to get those benefits. Warm home discount is £135 this year. Scottish Power don't pay out until end of march.

one gotcha to watch out for being part of the "broader group" for WHD like yourself... i was going to switch to a different company to chase the best fixed deals then had to cancel the move because i would have lost my £135 WHD discount so i can't leave before april now and can only get a fixed price deal with scottish power or else lose my £135 - not very fair.

We are not on benefits - except for DLA but do have savings - we are both low wage earners - it is just that savings are not mentioned in the T&C....

colalba

andrew-b wrote: »

.. i was going to switch to a different company to chase the best fixed deals then had to cancel the move because i would have lost my £135 WHD discount so i can't leave before april now and can only get a fixed price deal with scottish power or else lose my £135 - not very fair.

A useful warning.

Although it would be possible to apply for WHD with the new firm. However obviously more hassle and they have different criteria / budgets so you might not get it.

andrew-b

oh i see.. i must have read too quick. On the low income yes savings still not looked at. Last year i applied on the same grounds as you but then our situation changed after they asked for further evidence as proof and it ended up in a bit of a mess but got sorted eventually. I didn't have to give evidence of savings though. As your likely claiming Working tax credits DWP already they'll have an idea of the size of savings anyway.

andrew-b

colalba wrote: »

A useful warning.

Although it would be possible to apply for WHD with the new firm. However obviously more hassle and they have different criteria / budgets so you might not get it.

That's true...but it's risky so late in the day and EDF who i was going to move to couldn't give me an answer so sent me to DWP who didn't know either plus their information said there was a limit on number of applicants. For the core group (i.e. pensioners) it's better defined but the broader group it's very much down to the individual company to set the rules - most won't give WHD on low income alone which was why i went to Scottish power in the first place.

50Twuncle

andrew-b wrote: »

oh i see.. i must have read too quick. On the low income yes savings still not looked at. Last year i applied on the same grounds as you but then our situation changed after they asked for further evidence as proof and it ended up in a bit of a mess but got sorted eventually. I didn't have to give evidence of savings though. As your likely claiming Working tax credits DWP already they'll have an idea of the size of savings anyway.

No WTC either

andrew-b

whatever savings you've got though it could be argued you need them when on a low income. So long as your gross annual income is less than £16,190 and you can prove it (they asked for wage slips) you'll get it whatever savings you have even if your a lotto millionaire.

50Twuncle

andrew-b wrote: »

whatever savings you've got though it could be argued you need them when on a low income. So long as your gross annual income is less than £16,190 and you can prove it (they asked for wage slips) you'll get it whatever savings you have even if your a lotto millionaire.

Thanks - that's brilliant news !!

colalba

One of my relatives got scottish power WHD last year on basis of income under £16,190 and being older than 62. I can confirm she was not asked about savings. Actually she was not asked to prove income either (although this would not have been a problem). So I suspect this is being done on a random basis.

I checked most of the big six last night on her behalf as she is considering switching and it does look like scottish power is the most flexible with most of the others relying on the applicant being on specific benefits to decide if you are in the broader group. (As Andrew-b indicated in his post).

This £135 is a real saving for people on low income and I don't think is well known, especially if you don't have internet. I'd encourage forum members to look out for elderly relatives and get them to apply for this. It can be as simple as name address and a couple of tick boxes.

50Twuncle

colalba wrote: »

One of my relatives got scottish power WHD last year on basis of income under £16,190 and being older than 62. I can confirm she was not asked about savings. Actually she was not asked to prove income either (although this would not have been a problem). So I suspect this is being done on a random basis.

I checked most of the big six last night on her behalf as she is considering switching and it does look like scottish power is the most flexible with most of the others relying on the applicant being on specific benefits to decide if you are in the broader group. (As Andrew-b indicated in his post).

This £135 is a real saving for people on low income and I don't think is well known, especially if you don't have internet. I'd encourage forum members to look out for elderly relatives and get them to apply for this. It can be as simple as name address and a couple of tick boxes.

Who actually pays the £135 ?
Is it the energy companies or is it DWP ?
Our annual bill is approx. £700 - so this is a large percentage ....