New warm home discount rule penalises those who own their home

Molly4

Good Morning

I qualified for the Warm Home Discount last year due to being on a very low income so I came under the Broader Group and I live in England. I am not quite State Pension age yet, I receive PIP and Contribution based ESA. Even though my income is very low it is just above the threshold to qualify for means tested benefits so I, and many others in my situation miss out on a lot of help.  

This year the Government has decided to withdraw the Warm Home Discount from the Broader Group in England. I have spoken to the Warm Home Discount Helpline and to my Energy Company and it turns out we are simply not eligible and there is no option to apply if you live in England. 

As a vulnerable person due to serious ill health I feel people like me living in England are being discriminated against. 

tetrarch

How far short of the required EPC are you?

IMO the EPC is somewhat gameable. My current EPC was assessed as 4, not a typo FOUR

Secondary double glazing (however flimsy and temporary), LED lights "borrowed" if you can't afford to buy them etc

Can you post your redacted EPC here?

Regards

Tet 

Mstty

Molly4 said:

Good Morning

I qualified for the Warm Home Discount last year due to being on a very low income so I came under the Broader Group and I live in England. I am not quite State Pension age yet, I receive PIP and Contribution based ESA. Even though my income is very low it is just above the threshold to qualify for means tested benefits so I, and many others in my situation miss out on a lot of help.  

This year the Government has decided to withdraw the Warm Home Discount from the Broader Group in England. I have spoken to the Warm Home Discount Helpline and to my Energy Company and it turns out we are simply not eligible and there is no option to apply if you live in England. 

As a vulnerable person due to serious ill health I feel people like me living in England are being discriminated against. 

If you feel this way you should contact your local MP, get as many people in your area in the same boat onboard and badger them to take this forward.

wild666

Chrysalis said:
The good news is Labour are a good bet to win the next election, and they have already announced what their plans are, a £500 WHD, and no "energy costs" requirement, the requirements look similar to eligibility to get the CoL payments.

What a party says and what it does are two completely different things. IMHO they would never give a £500 WHD as it would increase the costs of electric and gas considerably as we all pay for it in our bills for it to be given to those who are eligible to receive it.

Mister_G

wild666 said:

Chrysalis said:
The good news is Labour are a good bet to win the next election, and they have already announced what their plans are, a £500 WHD, and no "energy costs" requirement, the requirements look similar to eligibility to get the CoL payments.

What a party says and what it does are two completely different things. IMHO they would never give a £500 WHD as it would increase the costs of electric and gas considerably as we all pay for it in our bills for it to be given to those who are eligible to receive it.

And I certainly wouldn't put money on Labour winning the next election!

JohnPo

Most people on the requisite benefits received a letter from DWP confirming eligibility.

Some people however have slipped through the net, in that the property / person still qualifies but for whatever reason an automatic 'match' by DWP did not occur.  There is an online service to check your eligibility https://www.check-warm-home-discount-eligibility.service.gov.uk/.  Lack of an EPC I suspect is one of the issues.

There is then a helpline to ring where they will ask some questions and if eligible the DWP helpline will notify the utility supplier who you were with in August 2022 who will be responsible for the payment.  

To avoid missing out I think there is a date of end Feb 23, to contact the helpline.

 

Spoonie_Turtle

tetrarch said:

How far short of the required EPC are you?

JohnPo said:

Most people on the requisite benefits received a letter from DWP confirming eligibility.

Some people however have slipped through the net, in that the property / person still qualifies but for whatever reason an automatic 'match' by DWP did not occur.  There is an online service to check your eligibility https://www.check-warm-home-discount-eligibility.service.gov.uk/.  Lack of an EPC I suspect is one of the issues.

There is then a helpline to ring where they will ask some questions and if eligible the DWP helpline will notify the utility supplier who you were with in August 2022 who will be responsible for the payment.  

To avoid missing out I think there is a date of end Feb 23, to contact the helpline.

 

The EPC is not a factor in the calculations.   They go by age, type, and size of the property.

The online eligibility checker only mentions EPC because they are a source where one can find the information about the age and size, required to complete the checker.

The poster in question is not eligible under the new rules because they don't claim a qualifying benefit (which they understand according to their post).

Speaking of which ...

Molly4 said:

Good Morning

I qualified for the Warm Home Discount last year due to being on a very low income so I came under the Broader Group and I live in England. I am not quite State Pension age yet, I receive PIP and Contribution based ESA. Even though my income is very low it is just above the threshold to qualify for means tested benefits so I, and many others in my situation miss out on a lot of help.  

Are you sure about that?  UC LCWRA pays marginally more than ESA Support Group and PIP is disregarded, so if it's just you living alone (or with a roommate, no partner) there should still be some entitlement to UC left, unless you have substantial savings that make you ineligible.

Try a benefits calculation here
https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/

JohnPo

Spoonie_Turtle said:

tetrarch said:

How far short of the required EPC are you?

JohnPo said:

Most people on the requisite benefits received a letter from DWP confirming eligibility.

Some people however have slipped through the net, in that the property / person still qualifies but for whatever reason an automatic 'match' by DWP did not occur.  There is an online service to check your eligibility https://www.check-warm-home-discount-eligibility.service.gov.uk/.  Lack of an EPC I suspect is one of the issues.

There is then a helpline to ring where they will ask some questions and if eligible the DWP helpline will notify the utility supplier who you were with in August 2022 who will be responsible for the payment.  

To avoid missing out I think there is a date of end Feb 23, to contact the helpline.

 

The EPC is not a factor in the calculations.   They go by age, type, and size of the property.

The online eligibility checker only mentions EPC because they are a source where one can find the information about the age and size, required to complete the checker.

The poster in question is not eligible under the new rules because they don't claim a qualifying benefit (which they understand according to their post).

Speaking of which ...

Molly4 said:

Good Morning

I qualified for the Warm Home Discount last year due to being on a very low income so I came under the Broader Group and I live in England. I am not quite State Pension age yet, I receive PIP and Contribution based ESA. Even though my income is very low it is just above the threshold to qualify for means tested benefits so I, and many others in my situation miss out on a lot of help.  

Are you sure about that?  UC LCWRA pays marginally more than ESA Support Group and PIP is disregarded, so if it's just you living alone (or with a roommate, no partner) there should still be some entitlement to UC left, unless you have substantial savings that make you ineligible.

Try a benefits calculation here
https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/

Not trying to make a point, but, the online checker specifically mentions EPC. Someone I personally know had this problem, where they were eligible according to rules (which I agree do not mention EPC, but the rules say it relies on information provided by the District Valuation Office) and only mentions EPC as possible basis to challenge the DWP decision.  In this particular case a large end of terrace pre WW1 property but no EPC - and had to ring the helpline as no letter from DWP and hey presto got approved - hence why I know people are slipping thought the net.

Spoonie_Turtle

JohnPo said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

tetrarch said:

How far short of the required EPC are you?

JohnPo said:

Most people on the requisite benefits received a letter from DWP confirming eligibility.

Some people however have slipped through the net, in that the property / person still qualifies but for whatever reason an automatic 'match' by DWP did not occur.  There is an online service to check your eligibility https://www.check-warm-home-discount-eligibility.service.gov.uk/.  Lack of an EPC I suspect is one of the issues.

There is then a helpline to ring where they will ask some questions and if eligible the DWP helpline will notify the utility supplier who you were with in August 2022 who will be responsible for the payment.  

To avoid missing out I think there is a date of end Feb 23, to contact the helpline.

 

The EPC is not a factor in the calculations.   They go by age, type, and size of the property.

The online eligibility checker only mentions EPC because they are a source where one can find the information about the age and size, required to complete the checker.

The poster in question is not eligible under the new rules because they don't claim a qualifying benefit (which they understand according to their post).

Speaking of which ...

Molly4 said:

Good Morning

I qualified for the Warm Home Discount last year due to being on a very low income so I came under the Broader Group and I live in England. I am not quite State Pension age yet, I receive PIP and Contribution based ESA. Even though my income is very low it is just above the threshold to qualify for means tested benefits so I, and many others in my situation miss out on a lot of help.  

Are you sure about that?  UC LCWRA pays marginally more than ESA Support Group and PIP is disregarded, so if it's just you living alone (or with a roommate, no partner) there should still be some entitlement to UC left, unless you have substantial savings that make you ineligible.

Try a benefits calculation here
https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/

Not trying to make a point, but, the online checker specifically mentions EPC. Someone I personally know had this problem, where they were eligible according to rules (which I agree do not mention EPC, but the rules say it relies on information provided by the District Valuation Office) and only mentions EPC as possible basis to challenge the DWP decision.  In this particular case a large end of terrace pre WW1 property but no EPC - and had to ring the helpline as no letter from DWP and hey presto got approved - hence why I know people are slipping thought the net.

Yes, it simply mentions the EPC so that people can find the age and size of their property if they don't already know it.

I have no doubt people are unfortunately slipping through the net, the same net which also appears to be picking up some people claiming the wrong type of ESA too.  The rules are indeed the rules, but as usual the actual implementation of them may not reflect reality.

[Incidentally - just for the sake of accuracy,  I'm not intending to be maliciously pedantic - usually benefits and messing up administration is the DWP's domain, but not the WHD.  Ofgem say they are administering it, although I don't know if they or BEIS were the ones running the property calculation and/or matching properties with people claiming relevant benefits.  The letter didn't have a particular dept on it, just an 'HM Government' header.]

JohnPo

Spoonie_Turtle said:

JohnPo said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

tetrarch said:

How far short of the required EPC are you?

JohnPo said:

Most people on the requisite benefits received a letter from DWP confirming eligibility.

Some people however have slipped through the net, in that the property / person still qualifies but for whatever reason an automatic 'match' by DWP did not occur.  There is an online service to check your eligibility https://www.check-warm-home-discount-eligibility.service.gov.uk/.  Lack of an EPC I suspect is one of the issues.

There is then a helpline to ring where they will ask some questions and if eligible the DWP helpline will notify the utility supplier who you were with in August 2022 who will be responsible for the payment.  

To avoid missing out I think there is a date of end Feb 23, to contact the helpline.

 

The EPC is not a factor in the calculations.   They go by age, type, and size of the property.

The online eligibility checker only mentions EPC because they are a source where one can find the information about the age and size, required to complete the checker.

The poster in question is not eligible under the new rules because they don't claim a qualifying benefit (which they understand according to their post).

Speaking of which ...

Molly4 said:

Good Morning

I qualified for the Warm Home Discount last year due to being on a very low income so I came under the Broader Group and I live in England. I am not quite State Pension age yet, I receive PIP and Contribution based ESA. Even though my income is very low it is just above the threshold to qualify for means tested benefits so I, and many others in my situation miss out on a lot of help.  

Are you sure about that?  UC LCWRA pays marginally more than ESA Support Group and PIP is disregarded, so if it's just you living alone (or with a roommate, no partner) there should still be some entitlement to UC left, unless you have substantial savings that make you ineligible.

Try a benefits calculation here
https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/

Not trying to make a point, but, the online checker specifically mentions EPC. Someone I personally know had this problem, where they were eligible according to rules (which I agree do not mention EPC, but the rules say it relies on information provided by the District Valuation Office) and only mentions EPC as possible basis to challenge the DWP decision.  In this particular case a large end of terrace pre WW1 property but no EPC - and had to ring the helpline as no letter from DWP and hey presto got approved - hence why I know people are slipping thought the net.

Yes, it simply mentions the EPC so that people can find the age and size of their property if they don't already know it.

I have no doubt people are unfortunately slipping through the net, the same net which also appears to be picking up some people claiming the wrong type of ESA too.  The rules are indeed the rules, but as usual the actual implementation of them may not reflect reality.

[Incidentally - just for the sake of accuracy,  I'm not intending to be maliciously pedantic - usually benefits and messing up administration is the DWP's domain, but not the WHD.  Ofgem say they are administering it, although I don't know if they or BEIS were the ones running the property calculation and/or matching properties with people claiming relevant benefits.  The letter didn't have a particular dept on it, just an 'HM Government' header.]

You are correct, the award letter I have seen does say 'HMG' and has a letter type 'WHDS3 '  with address '110552 Warm Home Discount Scheme, PO Box 26965, Glasgow, G1 9BW ' but I am sure that to do the data matching the information is first and foremost provided by DWP which is where one source of possible problems arise, the property details I can only inform based on experience as related above.

The key message from myself would be if your have a current qualifying benefit and have not heard anything don't assume the determination based on your property is necessarily correct.