Warm Home Discount Scheme 2022 - confusing info

gbhxu

But don't forget. 
The WHD is on top of the £400 (split over 6 months) we're already going to get.

And, as an OAP you'll get £500 instead of the normal £200 Winter Fuel Payment

sheramber

calcotti said:

Cyclamen said: Oh crumbs.. that means we are unlikely to get help then,

Why would you think that? You said you get guarantee Pension Credit. Therefore you will, under the changes, now get WHD automatically (provided your supplier is in the scheme).

Cyclamen  hasn't said she is getting Pension Credit

We have the income related benefit, two of us on PIP

unfortunately, two others have tagged on to the original OP's thread which leads to confusion.

calcotti

sheramber said:.. two others have tagged on to the original OP's thread which leads to confusion.

Missed that!

Spoonie_Turtle

An element of cross-posting, for some clarification.

Core Group 1: those in receipt of the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit.  Automatically eligible

Scotland: broader group, as in previous years check your suppliers website for eligibility criteria.  Need to apply (as far as I understand).

England and Wales: Core Group 2, benefits criteria (low income) AND living in a property deemed to intrinsically need high energy costs.
They will run the data and write to people, most who qualify will get it automatically.  [Where there is doubt, they'll send out letters asking for more information.]

The qualifying benefits for Core Group 2:
- Income related Employment and Support Allowance
• Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income Support
• Housing Benefit
• Universal Credit
• Pension Credit Savings Credit
• Child Tax Credits*
• Working Tax Credits* 

*The income thresholds for Tax Credits currently proposed for this year:
No children 1 child 2 children 3 children 4 or more children
Single adult 16,047 20,837 25,627 30,417 35,207
Two adults or more 23,950 28,740 33,530 38,320 43,110 


From the draft eligibility statement https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1093377/warm-home-discount-draft-eligibility-statement-2022.pdf

Robbie64

The new scheme, for people in Core Group 2, sounds like a complete mess. Unlike previous years, where a person would know well in advance whether or not he or she would qualify, the new scheme introduces an element of doubt. This is the worst time for the new scheme to have been introduced.

Spoonie_Turtle

Robbie64 said:

The new scheme, for people in Core Group 2, sounds like a complete mess. Unlike previous years, where a person would know well in advance whether or not he or she would qualify, the new scheme introduces an element of doubt. This is the worst time for the new scheme to have been introduced.

Agreed. 

There was mention somewhere that in following years it's supposed to remove uncertainty, because there's no 'first come first served' aspect and if a property qualifies in the first year, it's going to continue to qualify, no variation between suppliers - but this being the first year and nobody knowing, is terrible.

KxMx

There was a consultation, however with so many against the changes and the Government going ahead regardless, it was a sham consultation. 
They could have postponed the changes too, once the scale of the energy crisis became apparent, but haven't done that either. 

NedS

Spoonie_Turtle said:

From the draft eligibility statement https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1093377/warm-home-discount-draft-eligibility-statement-2022.pdf

Thank you - that was really helpful in understanding how the scheme will work.

MalMonroe

Hi, is the following info of any use? It's an updated report from last month by the MSE team.

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

It states

"Under the new rules, those in receipt of the guarantee credit element of pension credit will still be guaranteed the warm home discount. Everyone else will receive a letter from October telling them that they will either receive the rebate automatically and therefore don't need to do anything, or that they may be eligible but need to call a dedicated helpline to provide further evidence of your eligibility. 

If you think you're eligible but don't receive the letter in October, you can also contact a helpline, which will be available on Gov.uk or via Citizens Advice."

The criteria seem to change every year - a couple of years ago I was eligible (as a pensioner on a low income but not eligible to claim pension credits) for the WHD in the wider group but now I'm apparently too wealthy to even bother claiming (my circumstances haven't changed at all). 

poppy12345

MalMonroe said:

Hi, is the following info of any use? It's an updated report from last month by the MSE team.

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

All of that was mentioned in the link that Spoonie posted.

MalMonroe said:

The criteria seem to change every year - a couple of years ago I was eligible (as a pensioner on a low income but not eligible to claim pension credits) for the WHD in the wider group but now I'm apparently too wealthy to even bother claiming (my circumstances haven't changed at all). 

The criteria has remained the same in all previous years for those that were claiming Pension credit, including this year. For those that weren't then criteria depended on which energy supplier you were with.

For this year the criteria for those no claiming pension credit has completely changed. Part of the criteria is you must be claiming a qualifying means tested benefit and you don't need to apply. If you qualify you will be contacted.