Warm Home Discount

Brewer20

I've been searching over the past 7 days for possibly switching. I could have missed the boat here, it seems prices are on the up and I believe warnings were in place this month on this site and the main MSE. 
Anyways back to my point, I could have saved around £46 per year by switching 7 days ago, not a great deal I know. Now yesterday it's down to a whopping £32, same sort of deal and companies. Ok worth it, not really but any savings is better than none.
So unaware of the WHD (warm home discount) I searched all about it. We can class ourselves as on a low income, that puts us in the Broader Group and are in particular looking at Pure Planet or Avro to switch to. The latter being my second choice. So has anyone more recently switched to the above mentioned (this month) and been successful in registering and accepted for the WHD, it's a credit of £140. I know it could be limited to who gets it, or how many get it through s certain company, not all offer it either. I'm in the mindset if something is offered, go for it.
It's worth a try but switching for just this and not getting it would be a bit of faff for say just £30 in the end. BTW we are with Igloo energy, dual fuel been great, prices good but variable so could change anytime.
I've also done the separate electric and gas quotes, nothing really stands out price wise doing it that way.

MWT

Both Avro and Pure Planet appear to still be open for broader group WHD applications, so take a look at the forms they have on the website as a first step to seeing if you are likely to qualify.

The Avro one is clearest on their qualifying criteria, you need to be able to say 'yes' to at least one item in each of two groups of criteria.

Brewer20

MWT said:

Both Avro and Pure Planet appear to still be open for broader group WHD applications, so take a look at the forms they have on the website as a first step to seeing if you are likely to qualify.

The Avro one is clearest on their qualifying criteria, you need to be able to say 'yes' to at least one item in each of two groups of criteria.

If I understand this correctly, in the broader group, having an income less than £16k can qualify? Nothing else qualifies us. And our income is only pensions, under £16k.
So yes in both sections would be under £16k income and the other both over 64 yrs of age.👍

MWT

It would appear that you meet the criteria set by Avro then.

Possibly Pure Planet too, but it is harder to tell with the way they have their form laid out...

Joyful

Usually you will need something else such as fuel poverty( using more than 10% of your income on energy) or ill health. Many suppliers have different criteria and may make it only if you are on benefits or elderly or have a young child. They only way is to ask the suppliers.

MWT

Joyful said:

Usually you will need something else such as fuel poverty( using more than 10% of your income on energy) or ill health. Many suppliers have different criteria and may make it only if you are on benefits or elderly or have a young child. They only way is to ask the suppliers.

They all set their own criteria and while the OP might not qualify with every supplier, they do appear to meet the criteria set by Avro...

https://whd.avroenergy.co.uk/

Has to be worth a phone call at least to check that they have not filled their quota for this year...

[Deleted User]

MWT said:

Joyful said:

Usually you will need something else such as fuel poverty( using more than 10% of your income on energy) or ill health. Many suppliers have different criteria and may make it only if you are on benefits or elderly or have a young child. They only way is to ask the suppliers.

They all set their own criteria and while the OP might not qualify with every supplier, they do appear to meet the criteria set by Avro...

https://whd.avroenergy.co.uk/

Has to be worth a phone call at least to check that they have not filled their quota for this year...

Avro state that you have to meet at least 1 criteria in section A & B. 

I can see they meet the low income threshold for section A. 

OP will need to confirm if they meet any of the section B criteria? 

MWT

MarkN88 said:

Avro state that you have to meet at least 1 criteria in section A & B. 

I can see they meet the low income threshold for section A. 

OP will need to confirm if they meet any of the section B criteria? 

They already confirmed that they are both over 64 which more than meets the section B requirement to have one of them over 64...

[Deleted User]

MWT said:

MarkN88 said:

Avro state that you have to meet at least 1 criteria in section A & B. 

I can see they meet the low income threshold for section A. 

OP will need to confirm if they meet any of the section B criteria? 

They already confirmed that they are both over 64 which more than meets the section B requirement to have one of them over 64...

Yeah I missed that. 

Brewer20

Yeah 66yrs old and going on 65yrs old for my other half.
Although I get a pension (small) and my state pension (from March this year) my wife is still waiting for hers. So it doesn't push us over the threshold of what they say low income, it will come 2022 when my wife gets her SP.
So thanks for your input, decisions, I'll contact Pure planet most likely first. I like the idea of having the different payments, low for 6 months (warmer) higher for 6 months in the colder months. I've worked out the costs per kWh and standing charges it all seems to save us around £30- £40 per year, not much but the WHD is the clincher really. I based my usage on 3 years bills, well actual figures I have in a notebook and take the average years figures on that as a base for getting quotes.
 Every little helps as they say to try and get the price down.

Brewer20

Having considered a move to another company and in the main to claim WHD I've decided on that it's maybe not worth the switch. Putting hopes on getting the discount, not guaranteed, if you apply seems crazy to then be paying more for your energy.  Probably missed the boat on low prices too, it seems some of the quotes I had two weeks ago when requiring are now higher as expected. 
I don't know, probably expecting price increases across the board soon but most quotes I've had are higher per kWh for gas and electric than I'm currently on with Igloo. TBH there's not a great deal in it to be worrying over, the biggest worry to us is in keeping costs down personally which I think we seem to have got pretty much under control.
One thing though I think some can learn from is to actually take more interest in there usage, the actual figures and what they mean. I've got two neighbours who I've recently spoke to and the subject of energy comes into the conversation, both just say,  I don't know I just pay the bill each month and can't even remember how much it is.