Winter Warm Home Discount for E Customer

nachtvlinders

I'm supporting someone who recently joined E in November and they not had the discount before in previous years due to their lack of English. Their previous supplier was Utilita. They are on PAYG and they have not had the government letter confirming that they're entitled to the discount. All their income is reliant on benefits (UC, PIP, CB and CA).  Can anyone confirm if E customers have had their letters and vouchers sent to them yet? If so, can someone upload their copy so that I can show them to my friend what they need to look out for if and when it comes in the post. I would appreciate it a lot. My friend is really struggling with their top-ups and it would be good if they could get this extra help. 

Spoonie_Turtle

nachtvlinders said:

I'm supporting someone who recently joined E in November and they not had the discount before in previous years due to their lack of English. Their previous supplier was Utilita. They are on PAYG and they have not had the government letter confirming that they're entitled to the discount. All their income is reliant on benefits (UC, PIP, CB and CA).  Can anyone confirm if E customers have had their letters and vouchers sent to them yet? If so, can someone upload their copy so that I can show them to my friend what they need to look out for if and when it comes in the post. I would appreciate it a lot. My friend is really struggling with their top-ups and it would be good if they could get this extra help. 

In which country do they live?

In England and Wales entitlement is based on living in a property deemed to have high energy costs (calculated based on age/type/size) as well as receiving a qualifying benefit.  The letters come from the government not the supplier.

If they're in Scotland they would have to apply.
https://e.org/support/warm-home-discount

nachtvlinders

Yes, I read on the gov. website that vulnerable low income people would be eligible. They're in England living in a deprived inner-city private rented tenancy that's probably doesn't have a decent energy performance rating. 

Spoonie_Turtle

nachtvlinders said:

Yes, I read on the gov. website that vulnerable low income people would be eligible. They're in England living in a deprived inner-city private rented tenancy that's probably doesn't have a decent energy performance rating. 

As above,  the calculation for eligible properties is based on age, type, and size.  EPC doesn't come into it. 

As nobody else has responded on this thread I'll try to remember to take a photo of the letter as you asked.  (I'm not on prepayment though so no voucher to show. )

gbhxu

Page 1 of the letter

gbhxu

Page 2 of the letter

I'm with Eon Next too

Got the letter 4 or 5 weeks ago and still nothing

I'm WHDS3 (whatever that means)

They don't ask you which supplier you are with!

As always a cackhanded system used by the Government.

nachtvlinders

gbhxu said:

Page 2 of the letter

I'm with Eon Next too

Got the letter 4 or 5 weeks ago and still nothing

I'm WHDS3 (whatever that means)

They don't ask you which supplier you are with!

As always a cackhanded system used by the Government.

Thanks for this gbhxu - I assume you're paying by D/D whereas my friend's is on PAYG so a voucher will be sent to them.

For anyone who knows, the energy supplier was changed over in November so this can cause a possible delay in getting the right data for the customer at the given time when it would be processed... I didn't think it was possible to switch suppliers during the energy crisis, but it seemed they did it without issue. 

macman

It's perfectly possible to switch as long as the suppliers are willing to accept new customers. Most are not.

nachtvlinders

I've just investigated E's website info on this and found out that in order to receive WWHDS, the customer would have needed to have been with them by the qualifying date of 21st August 2022. Unfortunately, they switched in November which means they've lost out from this. I'll have to break the news to them that they don't qualify after all. Thanks to everyone who's responded. The gov. doesn't make it clear publicy how this can be made available and what pitfalls you can avoid so that everyone can take up this opportunity so they don't miss out. 

Spoonie_Turtle

nachtvlinders said:

I've just investigated E's website info on this and found out that in order to receive WWHDS, the customer would have needed to have been with them by the qualifying date of 21st August 2022. Unfortunately, they switched in November which means they've lost out from this. 

Who was their previous supplier?  If they met the criteria on the qualifying date then their previous supplier should be administering the payment.

"4.15. In case customers eligible for a Core Group 1 or 2 rebate switch energy supplier after the qualifying date, the supplier on the qualification date continues to hold the obligation to deliver the WHD rebate to the customer that switches suppliers after the qualifying date and is responsible for ensuring the customer receives the rebate. If the customer is a dual fuel customer of the supplier and switches suppliers for their electricity account only, so that the supplier continues to provide gas to the customer, the WHD rebate has to be issued to the customer’s electricity account, unless requested differently by the customer."
From PDF guidance on this page https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/warm-home-discount-guidance-v1-england-and-wales

I must stress IF, though, as it would completely depend on whether they live in a qualifying property based on age/type/size.  If you know their exact address you could perhaps investigate for them - the age and size would be on the full EPC information, and then see where the property falls in the calculation.
EPC info https://epc.opendatacommunities.org/
Property qualifying info https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1115362/whd-eligibility-statement-2022-england-wales-annex-1.xlsx

nachtvlinders

Spoonie: Thanks for checking out the small print for me. I'm not really close to this friend as it's someone I know who's friends with them, but I'll check to find out who their previous supplier was. 

They live in a very basic house that is behind some takeaways in a very rough part of the city, and I've checked there is no EPC listed on the gov. site; their address is number 1a, but on the site there is a 1b with a EPC rating E, and can only imagine they would have a similar rating. They've been in the tenancy for 12 years. Would the landlord be legally obliged to supply an up to date EPC?