So energy WHD

Sowatt

I applied for WHD early February on advice of MSE email stating it was still open to So customers. I received an automated email stating I would be replied to within 2 working days. Chased this up having had no reply only to receive same email. Finally had response 23rd May explaining they had been very busy due to unprecedented levels of  contact and to reply if I had not had a response. I replied only to have an email sent to me7th of June stating the application for warm house discount is now closed

Chrysalis

Yes WHD has fixed levels of funding and an application in February is very late, normally people apply between September and November.

The rules are changing for 2022, instead of people applying people who are deemed in need of help will get it automatically, with some more getting it via referrals, the precise details yet to be determined.

The criteria, will be the same for those of pension age, but for working age it will now be a combination of means testing and energy usage.  The controversial part is energy usage, this will be calculated via an algorithm based on the housing data that is used for council tax banding, and only those with deemed high energy usage will qualify, details of this are still sparse but those who took part in the consultation believe it will favour those in larger homes, so e.g. singletons in flats will lose out.   The referral system will be a way to get it via the back door but like all referral systems you need to be speaking to the right person at the right time and just hope they decide you in need of it.

If you get PIP/DLA or contribution based ESA, you previously may have qualified for WHD but now wont, unless you also get a means tested benefit "and" are deemed to have high energy use.