£140 help for electricity cost ...rule change

taj

Last winter I received the government grant £140 towards my electricity bill given to low income claimants if the criteria is met. Last month I applied again for this year my Circumstance's haven't changed at all I still receive state pension,a small private pension and £4.84 savings credit ( a small element of pension credit payable to anyone who has helped save towards their pension.)
This year it seems if this benefit is paid to you (savings credit) and not paid as Universal credit as its called now £140 grant will not be paid to you!

I've searched on the internet and rang Ageuk for further information but it seems it won't be paid.

Has anyone else found this out after being refused?

Richie-from-the-Boro

Lots of informed posts here on WHD the full detail.

The core group are triggered by the DWP, your provider is informed by the DWP and payment to you is made to your electricity account automatically by your energy supplier, that trigger is that you are in receipt of the (1) Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit only OR (2) both the Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit element of Pension Credit.

The broader group are not automatically paid or entitled, but should apply and are paid by the supplier from a pot of money on a first come first served basis, universal credit is one of the qualifying conditions for the broader group only, is not yet rolled out in all geographic areas and is generally paid to under 35 years only and single people. The broader group should apply for WHD at the start of the qualifying date given by your provider, usually March. The payment for the broader group should start about September, if you have just applied for this payment you are probably too late for this years allocation. Apply early next year.

Cold Weather Payment and / or Winter Fuel Payments are not the same thing and the WHD payment will not affect CWP or WFP.

Hope this helps.

taj

Richie-from-the-Bo... Thank you for the above info I'm very grateful.

I reminded a family member to apply again this year for it . His circumstances the same as mine except he's married and he has been awarded the grant already by a different provider yet mine says no. That doesn't make sense does it ����

Richie-from-the-Boro

HiYa taj,

You are telling me that you are both retired pensioners. Both applied 6 months ago, and are both on the same of the two different [see below] types of pension credit ? If you two people were both in receipt of both types of pension credit then both would be core group and would be awarded by the DWP, paid automatically by your provider. Neither would be broader group and first come first served. Its entirely possible that his provider has paid already and yours has not, his provider may have paid early and yours not yet. You should both have received a snail mail brown envelope from DWP already. In this case check personally with the address below.

Guarantee Pension Credit tops up your weekly income. Savings Pension Credit part is to reward people who have prepared for their retirement by having some earnings or savings.

Warm Home Discount Team
Pink Zone, 1st Floor
Peel Park
Brunel Way
Blackpool
FY4 5ES

taj

They need a copy of entitlement before they go ahead.
Thank you for you help Richie-from-the-Bo...

Richie-from-the-Boro

taj wrote: »

They need a copy of entitlement before they go ahead.
Thank you for you help Richie-from-the-Bo...

Who needs ? I assume your energy provider wants proof, I'm assuming there is no proof or you would already be in the core group, I'm assuming you are in the broader group and applied late or applied early enough but did not fit your energy providers selection criteria.

The broader group have no entitlement at all. The broader group is a lottery of customers who apply for a freebie hand out, some are lucky and get the £140 others are unlucky and get nothing - its not an entitlement. If they tell you you do not qualify for the WHD then you have no entitlement to either group but can apply for the broader group free lottery early next year when the list opens.

If you believe you have a right, and a mistake has happened in your individual case ring or write to the address below, they will tell you if you have a core group entitlement and put the situation right for you. To even begin to achieve anything definitive you must get in touch with the DWP in the address below - do it now - stop going round in circles. Best of luck.

Warm Home Discount Team
Pink Zone, 1st Floor
Peel Park
Brunel Way
Blackpool
FY4 5ES

taj

The pension service are going to send me confirmation of the saving element of pension credit that I'm in receipt of. Once I send that to the Warm Discount Scheme I should receive the grant.

Thanks again Richie-from-the-Bo...

Richie-from-the-Boro

taj wrote: »

The pension service are going to send me confirmation of the saving element of pension credit that I'm in receipt of. Once I send that to the Warm Discount Scheme I should receive the grant.

Thanks again Richie-from-the-Bo...

- you're welcome my friend

I hope now that you have made the approach to the DWP and the evidence secured your energy provider will give you what you are entitled to.

taj

DWP says it could take up to 14 days for me to receive the confirmation from them...but it will be worth it.

Thanks again for you help.