Warm home discount

KxMx

mac.d said:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but in Scotland you only get the WHD if you get the guarantee credit element of pension credit, or are on certain other benefits (the former don't need to apply and should get it automatically, the latter need to apply).

You can phone the Warm Home Discount helpline on 0800 107 8002.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2022/10/scotland-warm-home-discount-150-apply/

OP mentioned previously qualifying for WHD. I assume because they get Housing Benefit and disability benefits. 

SAS7973

I am unable to work due to illness and disability and have a 5 year old daughter living with me. I receive ESA, housing benefit and child tax credit, but have just been told by the government helpline that I don't qualify for warm home discount as my home is too energy efficient. I have received this help for the past 8 years and now I need it most, the Torries have shafted me. It also means that I miss the extra £150 that Shell energy are promising to customers that get the warm home discount. My home is not at all energy efficient and is freezing because I'm too scared to use the heating. I am in desperate need of that £300 and didn't  think that even the Torries would stoop this low.

270441

KxMx said:

mac.d said:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but in Scotland you only get the WHD if you get the guarantee credit element of pension credit, or are on certain other benefits (the former don't need to apply and should get it automatically, the latter need to apply).

You can phone the Warm Home Discount helpline on 0800 107 8002.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2022/10/scotland-warm-home-discount-150-apply/

OP mentioned previously qualifying for WHD. I assume because they get Housing Benefit and disability benefits. 

In Scotland at least up until last year you could apply if your income was below a certain level you were over 65 and required specialised equipment run off electricity for medical reasons.  This put you in the broader group if you were not receiving pension credits or the other benefits that counted towards eligibility. Looks like the criteria may well have changed.

Spoonie_Turtle

270441 said:

KxMx said:

mac.d said:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but in Scotland you only get the WHD if you get the guarantee credit element of pension credit, or are on certain other benefits (the former don't need to apply and should get it automatically, the latter need to apply).

You can phone the Warm Home Discount helpline on 0800 107 8002.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2022/10/scotland-warm-home-discount-150-apply/

OP mentioned previously qualifying for WHD. I assume because they get Housing Benefit and disability benefits. 

In Scotland at least up until last year you could apply if your income was below a certain level you were over 65 and required specialised equipment run off electricity for medical reasons.  This put you in the broader group if you were not receiving pension credits or the other benefits that counted towards eligibility. Looks like the criteria may well have changed.

The Broader Group criteria were varied amongst suppliers - there was the mandatory minimal inclusion, then suppliers were free to add extra criteria to include more people.   From what I can see the mandatory criteria are pretty much the same as before but it's entirely possible the scheme has been tightened up and suppliers aren't including extra people now.

Pompey61

My Mum is 94yrs old and private tenant. She receives the guarantee pension credit and receives letter from DWP stating she may be eligible for the Warm Home Discount but hasn't been able to claim it as the electricity supply in her building is in the name of her landlord. She has a pay as you go coin meter for her electric. Her flat is in an old building with original large single glazed windows. she is the only tenant in her building who has a gas supply and the bill for this is in her name (direct relationship with gas supplier) Her heating is gas central heating. It seems so unfair that because this discount is on the electric that she is not eligible even though she is in the core group who should receive it.  I tried contacting WHD helpline numerous times but could never get an answer due to lines constantly busy. Has anybody else suffered the same issue regarding not having electric supply in their name.

weety

With the WHD you can usually ask for it to be paid on either gas or electric but it's been done differently this year I had to contact WHD who said you could no longer claim as past deadline I contacted DWP who said yes we eligible then the energy co it had taken me over 1 week ringing one then another chatting online (kept chat transcript) all saying eligible but being told its DWP who said energy company but with perseverance I got it sorted  just keep pesterinh

Torres9

Typical of this Tory Government to change the rules of WHD at a time when people rely on it more than ever. My wife is on Highest level PIP and gets the WHD every year….until now! We tried to apply back in October but were told as we live in England we no longer needed to. We would receive the £150 payment by the end of March. When it wasn't credited to our account by then I contacted EDF only to be repeatedly told "If you are eligible you'll receive the discount." Unaware of any criteria change I was expecting to see a credit but after contacting EDF they told me that they had no notification from DWP that my wife qualified for WHD. No explanation why, advising me to contact WHD helpline. Of course when i rang them it was closed and the 'deadline for application was in February'. So when the Tories are saying they are helping the most vulnerable in society it's just another in a long list of lies we have come to expect from them. I'm just surprised there hasn't been more publicity about this.

Chrysalis

Torres9 said:

Typical of this Tory Government to change the rules of WHD at a time when people rely on it more than ever. My wife is on Highest level PIP and gets the WHD every year….until now! We tried to apply back in October but were told as we live in England we no longer needed to. We would receive the £150 payment by the end of March. When it wasn't credited to our account by then I contacted EDF only to be repeatedly told "If you are eligible you'll receive the discount." Unaware of any criteria change I was expecting to see a credit but after contacting EDF they told me that they had no notification from DWP that my wife qualified for WHD. No explanation why, advising me to contact WHD helpline. Of course when i rang them it was closed and the 'deadline for application was in February'. So when the Tories are saying they are helping the most vulnerable in society it's just another in a long list of lies we have come to expect from them. I'm just surprised there hasn't been more publicity about this.

In England there is no applications now and as such also no appeal system.

There is a few people who get asked to contact the DWP who are put in a "maybe" category, otherwise its supposed to be a fully automatic process.

Florence77

My 94 yr old mother is one of the lucky ones, she did qualify for WHD this year although there was a lot of red tape to claim it as it wasn’t automatic and she couldn’t have done it without help. However she still hasn’t received it.  I contacted her energy supplier after the March 31st deadline, they confirmed that she was eligible and should receive it by 30th April. Still nothing, apparently now waiting for an ITP (instruction to pay, I think) from who I don’t know.  WHD helpline is now closed. Don’t know what to do.  It seems this is a benefit many of the eligible will miss out on.

Loopsnhoops

I never did recieve my warm home discount that the DWP said I would recieve..  emails to OVO and SSE (I was transferred from SSE to OVO) and OFGEM were ignored.. I then contacted my local MP and he contacted the DWP on my behalf and all went quiet..  weeks and weeks..  nothing..