£150 warm home discount scheme

Robbie64

If you work on the assumption that the letter has been sent out incorrectly, and answer no (and therefore ignore the reference number too) then work through the answers, you will fail at the question "Whose name is on the electricity bill covering the date 21st August 2022" when answering with "Somebody else's name". You will get "You are not eligible for the Warm Home Discount this year".

missysmum

Sorry to hijack the thread, but can someone tell me if I’m right? 

I received the Warm Home Discount letter last week. Exactly the same as the one shown earlier on. I have been in receipt of ESA contributions based benefit for years. I have never claimed any means tested benefit, nor my husband. 

I don’t think I am entitled to it. I have tried ringing them but I’m on hold all the time. There isn’t an email address available. 

What can I do? If I leave it and then they come back to me to tell me I shouldn’t be claiming it, what will happen?

Muttleythefrog

missysmum said:

Sorry to hijack the thread, but can someone tell me if I’m right? 

I received the Warm Home Discount letter last week. Exactly the same as the one shown earlier on. I have been in receipt of ESA contributions based benefit for years. I have never claimed any means tested benefit, nor my husband. 

I don’t think I am entitled to it. I have tried ringing them but I’m on hold all the time. There isn’t an email address available. 

What can I do? If I leave it and then they come back to me to tell me I shouldn’t be claiming it, what will happen?

It sounds like there might be quite a few differences between the reality on the ground and the criteria laid out... but is it possible there is an underlying entitlement to income related ESA (or someone else in the household on means tested benefits)?

In the end you've made no claim (it's unlike previous years where the broader group had to) and have given no information that is false - if they determine you're entitled that's on their head using data they choose to acquire or estimate. If you get the payment then great and worst case (unlikely) scenario you have to pay it back.

Sadly getting through to ESA is a pain... and when I do it seems to always be the same agent which might indicate why it takes so long. They may not be able to help even if you do succeed as judging from the discussions out there it's not clear what data sources are being relied on and by who to apply qualification test.

mjky73

I know this is probably another example of the government’s appalling administrative systems and letters have been sent out to people who are in truth not eligible.  However, we do not know how many have been sent to people who unlike ourselves can not look things up online, or are not aware of discussions like this and just check online with the reference number.  Those people could be expecting, based on the letter (online check with letter reference) that their supplier will incorporate the amount when calculating the bills.  At best it’s confusing and has several of us asking questions to try and resolve the issue, but it’s cost to create this system and if it’s fundamentally wrong who’s to say whether or not the error will result in the same government system issuing cash to the energy suppliers.

elle_may

Adding to the conversation. In the past I received the £140 due. to being on ESA, I had to apply every year being in the broader group, this year because i am a pensioner and not on PC i thought i would not get it.  But when i went onto my so energy account i had it credit on my statement of £150. A day later had email to say that i was automatic entitled to it  being in the first core group.  i have looked at the critera and  don't fall into any. Husband gets Pip but you have have another qualfy/ing benefit
Then we received a letter from DWP saying we will have the WHD  and it will be on our energy bill. But it had our sons name on it and he is not named on energy bill. He is on income related ESA. So i am at a loss how i got it. Very welcome as i was not expecting it.

poppy12345

I think it's shocking that people are receiving it when they are not entitled to it because they are not named on an energy account. There will be so many people this year that have claimed it for many years that won't be entitled to it.

Muttleythefrog

elle_may said:

Adding to the conversation. In the past I received the £140 due. to being on ESA, I had to apply every year being in the broader group, this year because i am a pensioner and not on PC i thought i would not get it.  But when i went onto my so energy account i had it credit on my statement of £150. A day later had email to say that i was automatic entitled to it  being in the first core group.  i have looked at the critera and  don't fall into any. Husband gets Pip but you have have another qualfy/ing benefit
Then we received a letter from DWP saying we will have the WHD  and it will be on our energy bill. But it had our sons name on it and he is not named on energy bill. He is on income related ESA. So i am at a loss how i got it. Very welcome as i was not expecting it.

Unless there's something we're missing I think the qualifying criteria that you need to be named on the bills is false. Spend it wisely

sheramber

Muttleythefrog said:

elle_may said:

Adding to the conversation. In the past I received the £140 due. to being on ESA, I had to apply every year being in the broader group, this year because i am a pensioner and not on PC i thought i would not get it.  But when i went onto my so energy account i had it credit on my statement of £150. A day later had email to say that i was automatic entitled to it  being in the first core group.  i have looked at the critera and  don't fall into any. Husband gets Pip but you have have another qualfy/ing benefit
Then we received a letter from DWP saying we will have the WHD  and it will be on our energy bill. But it had our sons name on it and he is not named on energy bill. He is on income related ESA. So i am at a loss how i got it. Very welcome as i was not expecting it.

Unless there's something we're missing I think the qualifying criteria that you need to be named on the bills is false. Spend it wisely

It is not a payment it is a credit on the energy account.

Muttleythefrog

sheramber said:

Muttleythefrog said:

elle_may said:

Adding to the conversation. In the past I received the £140 due. to being on ESA, I had to apply every year being in the broader group, this year because i am a pensioner and not on PC i thought i would not get it.  But when i went onto my so energy account i had it credit on my statement of £150. A day later had email to say that i was automatic entitled to it  being in the first core group.  i have looked at the critera and  don't fall into any. Husband gets Pip but you have have another qualfy/ing benefit
Then we received a letter from DWP saying we will have the WHD  and it will be on our energy bill. But it had our sons name on it and he is not named on energy bill. He is on income related ESA. So i am at a loss how i got it. Very welcome as i was not expecting it.

Unless there's something we're missing I think the qualifying criteria that you need to be named on the bills is false. Spend it wisely

It is not a payment it is a credit on the energy account.

Yes I know... hence my (intended humorous given the vast rise in prices) comment to spend it wisely.... like not on heating hot tubs #MSE

Kim1965

I am  solely named on our energy account 
. Nether myself or my wife have ever claimed means tested benefits, the same letter turned up today address ed to my wife?? No idea why.