Warm homes discount

MouldyOldDough

Do the new rules mean that anyone receiving PIP with an income of under £16190 Including or excluding PIP is entitled to the payment? 

Spoonie_Turtle

MouldyOldDough said:

Do the new rules mean that anyone receiving PIP with an income of under £16190 Including or excluding PIP is entitled to the payment? 

Under the new criteria for the WHD scheme in England and Wales, PIP is not included. 

Households have to have low income as determined by means-tested benefits, and likely to have high energy costs as determined by the size, type, and age (thus likely energy efficiency) of the property.

The only automatic entitlement is people receiving Pension Credit Guarantee Credit.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/faqs-warm-home-discount-scheme

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/warm-home-discount-better-targeted-support-from-2022

pfpf

does this mean the "broader group" no longer exists? we qualified for the last 2 years based on household income, we don't claim any benefits.
do you now have to claim a qualifying benefit to get WHD?
if that's the case our £150.00 CT rebate has just been swallowed up .

Spoonie_Turtle

pfpf said:

does this mean the "broader group" no longer exists? we qualified for the last 2 years based on household income, we don't claim any benefits.
do you now have to claim a qualifying benefit to get WHD?
if that's the case our £150.00 CT rebate has just been swallowed up .

The 'broader group' varied by supplier before; some included people beyond the scope of the minimum government requirements, which it sounds like yours did.

For the new scheme, Core group 1 are still those who receive Pension Credit Guarantee Credit.

Core group 2 (what essentially used to be the 'broader group') are people deemed to be likely to be in fuel poverty - those with a low income and a property that likely takes a lot of energy to heat.

"The Core Group 2 element … low-income households that are more likely to have high energy costs and therefore most in need of support with energy bills. Households in receipt of certain means-tested benefits and income-capped Tax Credits would be deemed as low income and are eligible under the Core Group 2. These include:

• Income related Employment and Support Allowance
• Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income Support
• Universal Credit
• Housing benefit
• Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits
• Pension Credit Savings Credit (PCSC).

Government-held data [*benefit receipt and property characteristics] is used to identify low-income and high-energy-cost households under Core Group 2."

Suppliers aren't, from what I understand, allowed to include others beyond the prescribed group.  However some suppliers have help for those struggling to pay, so if you are then it's worth looking into.

I think the main reason they've done away with the disability factor was because disability benefits themselves are not means-tested, but that of course ignores the fact that disabled people are more likely to have higher energy costs for various reasons.  There has been outcry from various charities but so far no real response from the government.

Do also bear in mind this consultation was held in summer 2021, long before quite such ridiculous increases were forecast.  £150 isn't going to touch the sides, for a lot of people.


If you haven't done so recently, you should see whether you are entitled to any benefits - nothing to lose doing a 5-min check to make doubly sure you aren't missing out: https://www.entitledto.co.uk/
https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/

pfpf

hi, thank you. we don't qualify for any benefits at all, i check a couple of times a year.

we qualified via section 6 here: https://help.so.energy/support/solutions/articles/7000059618-am-i-eligible-for-the-warm-home-discount-

SJMALBA

The eligibility changes for WHD will hit many former recipients, us included, during the forthcoming winter, when energy costs will hit a massive new high! 

A couple of articles from earlier this year:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2022/03/warm-home-discount-reforms-/

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/fuel-bills-disabled-warm-homes-discount-b2049631.html?src=rss

As @Spoonie_Turtle says, there was an outcry at the time, but so far, it seems to have fallen on deaf ears.

On top of this, there are proposals to move SoLR costs from SCs to unit rates, which will also hit those already affected by the loss of WHD; even if some exemption is put in place for 'necessary' high energy users, I wouldn't be surprised it it too misses out those in receipt of non means-tested benefits?

Spoonie_Turtle

SJMALBA said:

On top of this, there are proposals to move SoLR costs from SCs to unit rates, which will also hit those already affected by the loss of WHD; even if some exemption is put in place for 'necessary' high energy users, I wouldn't be surprised it it too misses out those in receipt of non means-tested benefits?

If there were to be such exemptions I think they would likely be due to specified equipment/situations (e.g. ventilators, extra washing due to xyz conditions) and anything further on a case-by-case basis.

MouldyOldDough

Spoonie_Turtle said:

MouldyOldDough said:

Do the new rules mean that anyone receiving PIP with an income of under £16190 Including or excluding PIP is entitled to the payment? 

Under the new criteria for the WHD scheme in England and Wales, PIP is not included. 

Households have to have low income as determined by means-tested benefits, and likely to have high energy costs as determined by the size, type, and age (thus likely energy efficiency) of the property.

The only automatic entitlement is people receiving Pension Credit Guarantee Credit.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/faqs-warm-home-discount-scheme

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/warm-home-discount-better-targeted-support-from-2022

Octopus DO still use PIP / DLA in their entitlement criteria

https://octopus.energy/blog/warm-home-discount/

interestingly - it counts carers allowance as an income related benefit - for someone in the household !

The new rules appear to be being ignored by octopus - in our favour

it says :

You are eligible for the Warm Home Discount if at least one Criteria from section A and one from section B applies to you or your partner.

Section A

• You receive the Savings Element of Pension Credit only
• You receive Council Tax Reduction (excludes the 25% single person’s discount)
• You receive Income Support
• You receive Income-based or Contribution-based Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• You receive Income-related or Contribution-based Employment & Support Allowance (ESA)
• You receive Working Tax Credit
• You receive Working Tax Credit with a total annual household income of £16,190 or less (before tax and National Insurance)
• You receive Child Tax Credit where the award statement shows a total annual household income of £16,190 or less (before tax and National Insurance)
• You receive universal credit, and have an earned income of between zero and £1,349 in at least one of the twelve preceding assessment periods
• Your total annual household income is £16,190 or less (before tax and National Insurance)

Section B

• You receive Personal Independence Payments (PIP)
• You receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA), any disability premium (all rates) or disabled child element of Universal Credit
• You receive any Income-related benefit which includes:
  • Carer’s Premium and Carer’s Allowance (for someone within the household) OR
  • Attendance Allowance (for applicant or their partner) OR
  • Industrial Injuries Benefit
• You hold a Maternity Exemption Certificate (MATEX)
• You hold a Medical Exemption Certificate (MEDEX)
• Are exempt from prescription charges (only for customers in England) or hold an HC2 certificate
• You hold a valid war pension NHS exemption certificate and the prescription is for your disability
• You're aged 62 and over (OR receive any pensioner premium)
• You're disabled or someone else within the household has a disability
• You have a dependent child under 5 (dependent child who normally resides with the applicant)
• You have a dependent child aged 5 – 16 (dependent child who normally resides with the applicant or under 18 if in full time education (dependent child who normally resides with the applicant)
• You receive the limited capability for work element of Universal Credit

SJMALBA

@MouldyOldDough that's Octopus' Broader Group criteria for 2021/22.

Spoonie_Turtle

MouldyOldDough said:

The new rules appear to be being ignored by octopus - in our favour

Further to @SJMALBA's post, Octopus couldn't ignore the new rules even if they wanted to, because they are specified in law. 

Spoonie_Turtle

Apologies for the consecutive posts, but the Household Support Fund is also a possible route to try if people are struggling to pay - energy and water are some of the costs that can be considered.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/household-support-fund-guidance-for-local-councils/household-support-fund-final-guidance-for-county-councils-and-unitary-authorities-in-england#establishing-eligibility

[The HSF is administered by local authorities, and eligibility for any help is discretionary.]