Warm Home Discount?

Mrs_Money

My parents qualify for the Warm Home Discount payment of £135 from their utility supplier as they receive pension credit and are over 75. I've seen several online advice sites say there is no need to apply as it will be automatic because the utility company will receive details of all its customers who are entitled and so payment will be automatic, but confusingly, I've just looked at their supplier's website and it is asking customers to apply.
If it is an online application only (which I doubt - hopefully) I will have to do it for them.
Interestingly, they knew nothing about this payment until I told them as I'd seen an online article about it.
Anyone know what they should do? I don't want them to miss out.

sheep-ali

There is a thread on the disability and dosh site where posting #2 explains about this.
Hth x

ondup

You have to contact the supplier direct, they send out a claim form and if they have it back in time, you get the discount. I've only just seen your message and it's now Feb, so I think you'll be too late this year, if you've not already applied.

It will be down to flexibility and speed of your supplier, so make contact and see of there is still time. If you've missed this year, find out when to apply next year, discount is from March to April. But they will say each year they have to wait for Gov to let them know how much, so you can't apply until they know, around Aug. You have to apply every year, seems a pain and a waste of time, but I suppose they pay out less if folk forget or don't know about the scheme.

richard9991

Mrs_Money wrote: »

My parents qualify for the Warm Home Discount payment of £135 from their utility supplier as they receive pension credit and are over 75. I've seen several online advice sites say there is no need to apply as it will be automatic because the utility company will receive details of all its customers who are entitled and so payment will be automatic, but confusingly, I've just looked at their supplier's website and it is asking customers to apply.
If it is an online application only (which I doubt - hopefully) I will have to do it for them.
Interestingly, they knew nothing about this payment until I told them as I'd seen an online article about it.
Anyone know what they should do? I don't want them to miss out.

people on pc are in the Broad group and will get the credit on there bill or vouchers if pre payment meter automaticly by 31/3/2014 all others have to apply

leadhead

richard9991 wrote: »

people on pc are in the Broad group and will get the credit on there bill or vouchers if pre payment meter automaticly by 31/3/2014 all others have to apply

I dont think this is correct...Ive just read that people on Pension Credit(Guaranteed) are actually in the "Core" group.

Ive received mine for the last 2 years, but changed supplier in September and havent had any word about mine yet.

I'll give the Warm Home Gov Dept a ring on Monday to see if everything is ok.

Mrs_Money

Sorry for resurrecting this old thread that I started last year, but is anyone else having difficulty getting this payment? I have elderly parents who say they never got it last March (they knew nothing about it at all) and have had no letter this autumn telling them they will get it next March, which I believe is how it works.
They are getting Pension Credit so I assumed it was automatic - but nothing yet.
They are with EDF for elecricity and British Gas for gas (both are listed as being part of the scheme).
I need to chase this up for them but don't quite know where to start? I don't want them to miss out again.

ukcarper

My mum received a letter from EDF a few weeks ago and I filled out online form for her. It said that if you get the guaranteed part of pension credit you do not need to claim if you only get savings pension credit you do.

anmarj

Mrs_Money wrote: »

Sorry for resurrecting this old thread that I started last year, but is anyone else having difficulty getting this payment? I have elderly parents who say they never got it last March (they knew nothing about it at all) and have had no letter this autumn telling them they will get it next March, which I believe is how it works.
They are getting Pension Credit so I assumed it was automatic - but nothing yet.
They are with EDF for elecricity and British Gas for gas (both are listed as being part of the scheme).
I need to chase this up for them but don't quite know where to start? I don't want them to miss out again.

You need to find out which element of pension credit they are getting. If they are on guaranteed then they would automatically qualify and would of had letters with their details being passed on . If the are on savings credit only, the do not qualify automatically and therefore have to see if their supplier has a different criteria

https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme/overview

racon

Mrs_Money wrote: »

Sorry for resurrecting this old thread that I started last year, but is anyone else having difficulty getting this payment? I have elderly parents who say they never got it last March (they knew nothing about it at all) and have had no letter this autumn telling them they will get it next March, which I believe is how it works.
They are getting Pension Credit so I assumed it was automatic - but nothing yet.
They are with EDF for elecricity and British Gas for gas (both are listed as being part of the scheme).
I need to chase this up for them but don't quite know where to start? I don't want them to miss out again.

Hey, We are with Scottish Power and received our 2013/14 payment in October 2014. Then a few weeks ago we received another payment for the 2014/15 year. Seems that there was a long delay for last years payment to come through. We were on Guaranteed Pension Credit for both years. Sadly we lost it recently due to the complete loss of the DLA award when I claimed PIP and was told that a miracle had happened and I no longer had any care needs or mobility problems!!

missile

Mrs_Money wrote: »

Sorry for resurrecting this old thread that I started last year, but is anyone else having difficulty getting this payment? I have elderly parents who say they never got it last March (they knew nothing about it at all) and have had no letter this autumn telling them they will get it next March, which I believe is how it works.
They are getting Pension Credit so I assumed it was automatic - but nothing yet.
They are with EDF for elecricity and British Gas for gas (both are listed as being part of the scheme).
I need to chase this up for them but don't quite know where to start? I don't want them to miss out again.

You should apply to EDF here > https://edfenergyonline.co.uk/supportplus/form.html


As far as I know:
1.The government ought to have advised your parents of their eligibility.
2.Your parents may qualify as "automatically considered", i.e. they are eligible. However they MUST apply. How else would EDF know your parents are eligible?
3.Rebate cannot be backdated and thus they may have missed out on their entitlement for 2014-15.
4.Entitlement is lost if you change suppliers after you apply and before you receive the rebate.

For your info: Warm Home Discount Scheme (http://www.britishgas.co.uk/products-and-services/gas-and-electricity/the-warm-home-discount.html)

Scheme Year 4 now open from 1st May 2014.

What is the Warm Home Discount Scheme?
The Warm Home Discount (WHD) Scheme is a 5 year programme introduced by the Government in April 2011 and administered by energy suppliers to provide rebates on the electricity bills of households that need it most in England, Scotland, and Wales.
The Warm Home Discount Scheme (WHDS) offers eligible customers a one-off payment on their electricity bill. For Winter 2014/15, this will be £140.
The WHDS separates eligible households into two groups - the 'Core'group and the 'Broader'group.

Core group
Pension Credit customers who are automatically considered for the discount.

If you meet the following conditions, you do not need to do anything now to get your discount in 2014/2015. The Government will write to all those potentially eligible for the winter 2014/15 discount in autumn 2014.

You may qualify for this energy discount if on 12 July 2014 (the qualifying date) you are the named account holder or partner and:

• Receive only the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit (without receiving the Savings Credit) OR
• Receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit as well as the Savings Credit.

To find out more about the eligibility criteria, please visit this page:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensionsandretirementplanning/Benefits/BenefitsInRetirement/DG_185940

missile

PS: I do appreciate your frustration that your parents have missed out. Many benefits are not well publicised and often difficult to obtain. One could be forgiven for thinking this is a deliberate ploy to discourage applicants and may be an integral part of Ian Duncan Smith's plan to reduce government spending on benefits.