Warm Home Discount: Minister promises to look at complaints after MSE investigation

Chrysalis

eblew said:

Spoonie_turtle my supplier is boost(part of ovo) and i prepay so I don't actually know the specific name,I received a letter when it 1st started just saying I was eligible and would I like the £140 putting on my gas or electric and it would automatically be on every year and I don't need to re-apply every year

Have your circumstances changed or property records?

The consultation mentioned it was designed so those that automatically got an award would keep getting it for continuity purposes (as long as they had no change of circumstances such as moving or income change).  But there is always a chance a policy change could have changed things.  You can try the help line, who would at least confirm if you should be getting it as letters can get lost.

eblew

No none of my circumstances have changed or anything,no income changes or anything,I rang the helpline number and they said my property is not classed as high energy and they told me to email a complaint,which I done and the complaint response from the government was the same that my property isn't high cost

eblew

For anyone who would like to email a complaint to the warm home scheme(if it's still open) is complaints@beis.gov.uk

Chrysalis

Then I think thats that then, not good news, but I dont think the decision is getting changed.

If you still have the letter and you feel the letter saying you qualify for future years should be enforced, you could try your MP as a last avenue.

eblew

Chrysalis, I agree I think I would be just hitting my head off a wall,but there's one thing for sure that the government armed not telling the  truth when they're saying they are paying it to more people,I'm voting labour! Thankyou all for taking the time to respond to me!!

Spoonie_Turtle

eblew said:

Hi spoonieturtle, I am in England and my property was built between 1950-1966,it is a 3 bed mid terrace,and it's 79m2(, it shows my epc expired in 2020,energy rating c, thankyou for your help!

Okay so it looks like you truly aren't eligible for it.  For houses they increase the floor area by 14%, so 79m² + 14% = 90.06m².  I don't know if they round up or down so I did both bands that include 90m².

This year's table 

Last year's table


So you weren't eligible last year either when they changed the scheme, which means support you got last year was probably something discretionary from your supplier.  Frustrating to no longer be eligible, but at least you know for sure now that the scheme isn't withholding something you're entitled to.

Source for these: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/warm-home-discount-eligibility-statement-england-and-wales-2023-to-2024-scheme-year-onward
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/warm-home-discount-eligibility-statement-england-and-wales

eblew

Thankyou spoonie_turtle for your time and effort in looking into it,it really is appreciated !

Spoonie_Turtle

eblew said:

Thankyou spoonie_turtle for your time and effort in looking into it,it really is appreciated !

You're most welcome I just wish the answer had been a better outcome for you!

Mee

I spoke to a number of people all on benefits who have had their WHD rejected. In both cases they were told their flat was too small!

In one of those cases the individual lives in a block of flat where others have been successful.

I'm perplexed by such overly complex system where some are rejected be because their bill is too small when it is likely it is small because people are putting eating before heating.

Bonkers!

Spoonie_Turtle

Mee said:

I spoke to a number of people all on benefits who have had their WHD rejected. In both cases they were told their flat was too small!

In one of those cases the individual lives in a block of flat where others have been successful.

I'm perplexed by such overly complex system where some are rejected be because their bill is too small when it is likely it is small because people are putting eating before heating.

Bonkers!

It's not based on actual bills, it's based on a notional calculation of the energy required to heat the property, based on size, type, and age.

Obviously the block of flats you mention are all going to be the same age and type, unlikely to be much size variation (and flats rarely qualify anyway, in reality) so the main difference is likely to be the type of benefits they're claiming.  Only certain means-tested benefits qualify to start with.

There's also the potential that if they're over pension age they're mixing up the Warm Home Discount with the Winter Fuel Payment,

AND/OR some suppliers are choosing to give certain customers discretionary payments in place of the WHD and/or WFP if they previously qualified but don't any more.