MSE News: More pensioners can now claim the Warm Home Discount

Mane_hunter

I don't get pension credit, and I'm disabled lung disease kidney disease etc, I sit with a fleece on, socks on, and a big fleece round me, as is can't afford to burn heating, I don't qualify for warm heat discount,

Joyful

Viv0147 Check with your supplier. From BG's point of view we are giving it to anyone on Savings Pension credit but I cannot speak for others.

Mane hunter -Do you not get it as your household income is over £16010?

mrsval

All the bills are in my name, my husband is a pensioner on a basic state pension and receives the £200 fuel help every year. But we receive no other benefits can we claim the £140? Thank you in advance for your help.

Joyful

mrsval

You need to check your electric suppliers website. It is only definite if your husband gets Guaranteed pension credit. All suppliers have different criteria for the Broader group( those who need assessed).

Vuptious

This news story is slightly misleading. Having worked for one of the big six energy companies until recently and dealt specifically with WHD I can confirm that ALL customers who receive ONLY the Guaranteed element of Pension Credit, regardless of their age, should receive the WHD automatically. The change this year is only for those customers who receive BOTH the Guaranteed element AND the Savings element of Pension Credit. Previously the WHD was only given to those receiving both elements if they were over 75 but this age limit has now been removed.


As has already been said those who do not receive Pension Credit may still be eligible if they are on a low income and/or are over 62 so please call or check your suppliers website to see what their criteria is for the BROADER group as many are still unaware that they may be eligible.


ALSO, the WHD is paid onto ELECTRICITY accounts therefore it does not matter what fuel you use to heat your house, as long as you use electricity and do not have a sub-meter (caravans, etc.) you should still get this.

Barry28

My provider seems to have taxed this payment making it a total of £133.33p.. doesn't seem to make sense..

MegaMiniMouse

Barry28 wrote: »

My provider seems to have taxed this payment making it a total of £133.33p.. doesn't seem to make sense..

The reason for that is because you will also save VAT of £6.66, and that will bring your total benefit to £140 - give or take one penny...

MegaMiniMouse

Vuptious wrote: »

ALSO, the WHD is paid onto ELECTRICITY accounts therefore it does not matter what fuel you use to heat your house, as long as you use electricity and do not have a sub-meter (caravans, etc.) you should still get this.

Yes - I have seen complaints that it makes no sense to credit WHD to an electricity account unless the home is warmed by an electric heating system. But it actually makes sense because there are very few people who do not have an electricity account.

But it also true that the phrase Warm Homes Discount doesn't make much sense if it is not applied directly to the recipient's heating bills.

The same applies to the winter heating allowance and the cold weather payments - my finances are organised in such a way that all my bills are covered by my regular pension/benefits payments. Any occasional and unpredictable extra payments usually get added to my personal contingency fund (beer money, and an occasional weekend on the Isle of Wight).

joesgran

I thought I'd save myself some money by using MSE's search to get us a better fuel tariff. It worked out that by changing to OVO from Scottish Power I'd be about £80 better off. Imagine my disappointment when I later found out that as they don't participate in the Warm Home Discount scheme, we won't receive our £140 payment so now we are £60 WORSE off. MSE could do with drawing peoples attention to potential customers of these companies about the fact that they may end up worse off if they usually get this benefit. With our Rheumatoid Arthritis, Asthma, Angina and Vibration Whitefinger we will really feel the loss of the money.

shammyjack

joesgran wrote: »

I thought I'd save myself some money by using MSE's search to get us a better fuel tariff. It worked out that by changing to OVO from Scottish Power I'd be about £80 better off. Imagine my disappointment when I later found out that as they don't participate in the Warm Home Discount scheme, we won't receive our £140 payment so now we are £60 WORSE off. MSE could do with drawing peoples attention to potential customers of these companies about the fact that they may end up worse off if they usually get this benefit. With our Rheumatoid Arthritis, Asthma, Angina and Vibration Whitefinger we will really feel the loss of the money.

As has already been pointed out , you failed to correctly read what was in front of you .

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5108473