Dispute Warm home Discount eligibility?

caroline231

Kind people of the forum, I have been told over the phone not to get my hopes up for the WHD this year (have been eligible the last 5years) as my property is classed as low cost (!) They have reached this conclusion as I live in a first floor flat and they assume I have another inhabited property below me, but in reality the space below my flat is carpark, covered by bedroom and bathroom. 

So, For anyone who has received a letter, or knows, can I dispute the decision?

I have this far resisted heating my property at all. The Energy rebate vouchers go on my prepayment Electricity account and cover showers and cooking, lighting etc for the month (bit won't cover the heating) 

I don't have a gas supply so we're all electric 

KxMx

Age of property and size of property are the criteria for determining eligibility for WHD.
There is no nuance as far as I know, I'm a ground floor flat and both our properties would have been judged on the same criteria in all likelihood.

Added: there is a phone number you can https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme/low-income 

poppy12345

Yes age and size of your property is what they go by this year. I'm not aware of any appeals process. I don't qualify either and missed out by just 4sq meters!! I've also claimed it for the past 5 years. My EPC rating ceritificate has also expired in March 2022 and to think they are going off a certificate that was given 10 years ago is quite shocking!

The new crtieria makes no sense because those that are not entitled to it are receiving it!

Spoonie_Turtle

poppy12345 said:

Yes age and size of your property is what they go by this year. I'm not aware of any appeals process. I don't qualify either and missed out by just 4sq meters!! I've also claimed it for the past 5 years. My EPC rating ceritificate has also expired in March 2022 and to think they are going off a certificate that was given 10 years ago is quite shocking!

The new crtieria makes no sense because those that are not entitled to it are receiving it!

They're actually not going by EPCs because not all properties have them, and of course many that do are out of date (although usually they only go one way, getting better, unless insulation/efficiency measures are for some reason removed). 

They were only linked by checker so people could find out the size and age of their property.

I do agree it doesn't make sense that people who don't appear to be entitled to it (particularly those not claiming means-tested benefits) are getting it, but is anyone really surprised they've messed it up?!

caroline231 said:

Kind people of the forum, I have been told over the phone not to get my hopes up for the WHD this year (have been eligible the last 5years) as my property is classed as low cost (!) They have reached this conclusion as I live in a first floor flat and they assume I have another inhabited property below me, but in reality the space below my flat is carpark, covered by bedroom and bathroom. 

So, For anyone who has received a letter, or knows, can I dispute the decision?

No, as KxMx says there is no nuance.  Your property is a flat, and along with age and size that's all they take into account. 

I think they estimated it was something like only 7% of flats that would qualify as high cost, and with those being the largest flats an even lower % of them are likely to be inhabited by people claiming means-tested benefits.

casinoang

caroline231 said:

Kind people of the forum, I have been told over the phone not to get my hopes up for the WHD this year (have been eligible the last 5years) as my property is classed as low cost (!) They have reached this conclusion as I live in a first floor flat and they assume I have another inhabited property below me, but in reality the space below my flat is carpark, covered by bedroom and bathroom. 

So, For anyone who has received a letter, or knows, can I dispute the decision?

I have this far resisted heating my property at all. The Energy rebate vouchers go on my prepayment Electricity account and cover showers and cooking, lighting etc for the month (bit won't cover the heating) 

I don't have a gas supply so we're all electric 

How bad is this ? Come on Martin can you not look into this ? I live in flat with car port under EPC band D I’m on a low income get housing benefit and now won’t qualify - disgusting 

caroline231

Gah, so frustrating. I've no insulation in or around the property. My floors are bare, uninsulated concrete, the windows don't shut properly (reported weekly, but because they 'are secure' they won't fix them). I paid for electric blankets for the kids' beds but can't afford to do much more. I do work, part time, increasing my hours just pays for more childcare as I sold the car so have to walk to from work. 

Honestly l, this is stressing me out so much I sometimes wonder if I'd be better of letting the kids go into care so they have somewhere warm to stay with hot food available everyday.

KxMx

OP if things have reached level then I'd urge you to contact GP for mental health support.

Also have you used one of the benefits calculators to make sure you are getting everything that you are entitled to?https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

CAB or your local council may be able to point you towards more localised support, such as a foodbank or for things such as a grant for carpets etc. 

caroline231

Hi, I use the benefit calculators often, just to be sure. Get weekly deliveries from a local social supermarket. 

No grants for furniture or carpets as I'm not moving from care or homelessness 

KxMx

Citizens Advice would definitely be worth a try locally, often schemes and sources of help aren't advertised openly but operate by referral or word of mouth only.

If your children are school age then the school may be able to signpost as well. 

Spoonie_Turtle

caroline231 said:

Gah, so frustrating. I've no insulation in or around the property. My floors are bare, uninsulated concrete, the windows don't shut properly (reported weekly, but because they 'are secure' they won't fix them). I paid for electric blankets for the kids' beds but can't afford to do much more. I do work, part time, increasing my hours just pays for more childcare as I sold the car so have to walk to from work. 

Honestly l, this is stressing me out so much I sometimes wonder if I'd be better of letting the kids go into care so they have somewhere warm to stay with hot food available everyday.

With all of this I'd suggest contacting your supplier to see if there's anything they can do to help.  Also your local council.

Does the flat have an EPC rating?  I believe it has to be E or above (which is still pretty dire, to be fair) to be rented out, I just wonder if it even meets that or not.

Muttleythefrog

Also see if any community larder type operation exists within accessible distance. Broad spectrum advice seems needed and I would probably write off any Warm Home Discount due to lack of nuance in the new scheme to use someone else's word. Good luck getting some tailored support... it does sound needed.