Warm home discount rejection help understanding why

HillStreetBlues

Robbie64 said:

It's basically a mess.

I think many people would agree with you.

poppy12345

Robbie64 said:

It's basically a mess.

Agree with that. I know someone that claims New style ESA and PIP, no means tested benefits are claimed at all. No dependant children at home either, yet oddly this person was entitled to the WHD and received it last week. It really makes no sense.

Spoonie_Turtle

Robbie64 said:

The online checker says that I qualify for the Warm Home Discount. I've never received a letter nor any payment on my energy bill (assuming EDF have made them to qualifying account holders). I'm assuming I don't qualify and the online checker isn't reliable.

It's basically a mess.

If you know your property characteristics for definite then we can work out from the spreadsheet whether you should qualify or not, subject to claiming a qualifying benefit.

Completely agree it's a total mess.

Robbie64

Just an update on mine.

I've phoned the helpline who confirmed that I qualify. I was asked a few questions including the name of my energy provider and the account number (as well as questions relating to the benefit I received on 21 August 2022). i was informed that my energy provider has now been contacted and that I should get the WHD credited to my electricity account by the end of March 2023).

I forgot to ask if I would get a confirmation letter and as the helpline closes on 28 February it will be too late to phone again if I need to query anything.

ronrobred

I have been onto the WHD scheme and was told I was in the cusp and do not qualify. I am on UC and work part time, up until the government involvement I received the discount for the past 3yrs, since claiming UC. I am in an end of terrace property, built in the fifties, pay the same rent/council tax band as the semis on our estate and have the same 3 bedrooms. I asked if I could appeal the decision and was told there was no appeal process. Totally puzzled by this

HillStreetBlues

ronrobred said:

I have been onto the WHD scheme and was told I was in the cusp and do not qualify. I am on UC and work part time, up until the government involvement I received the discount for the past 3yrs, since claiming UC. I am in an end of terrace property, built in the fifties, pay the same rent/council tax band as the semis on our estate and have the same 3 bedrooms. I asked if I could appeal the decision and was told there was no appeal process. Totally puzzled by this

Me too.
A semi can qualify whereas an end of terrace doesn't. Can't see the logic in that.

grimmyth

HillStreetBlues said:

ronrobred said:

I have been onto the WHD scheme and was told I was in the cusp and do not qualify. I am on UC and work part time, up until the government involvement I received the discount for the past 3yrs, since claiming UC. I am in an end of terrace property, built in the fifties, pay the same rent/council tax band as the semis on our estate and have the same 3 bedrooms. I asked if I could appeal the decision and was told there was no appeal process. Totally puzzled by this

Me too.
A semi can qualify whereas an end of terrace doesn't. Can't see the logic in that.

I don’t really see how going by the type of property even makes sense. I understand that using an EPC report makes sense as some homes will have better insulation than others, but ruling out a mid terrace with no insulation and single glazing but giving it to a semi detached with better heat retention makes no sense. The type of property for the most part is irrelevant. 

HillStreetBlues

grimmyth said:

HillStreetBlues said:

ronrobred said:

I have been onto the WHD scheme and was told I was in the cusp and do not qualify. I am on UC and work part time, up until the government involvement I received the discount for the past 3yrs, since claiming UC. I am in an end of terrace property, built in the fifties, pay the same rent/council tax band as the semis on our estate and have the same 3 bedrooms. I asked if I could appeal the decision and was told there was no appeal process. Totally puzzled by this

Me too.
A semi can qualify whereas an end of terrace doesn't. Can't see the logic in that.

I don’t really see how going by the type of property even makes sense. I understand that using an EPC report makes sense as some homes will have better insulation than others, but ruling out a mid terrace with no insulation and single glazing but giving it to a semi detached with better heat retention makes no sense. The type of property for the most part is irrelevant. 

The trouble is it doesn't account for any upgrades.
A property that does qualify might have triple glazing,  yet one that doesn't qualify might only has single.
A property that does qualify might be well insulated,  yet one that doesn't qualify might not have any.

Spoonie_Turtle

grimmyth said:

HillStreetBlues said:

ronrobred said:

I have been onto the WHD scheme and was told I was in the cusp and do not qualify. I am on UC and work part time, up until the government involvement I received the discount for the past 3yrs, since claiming UC. I am in an end of terrace property, built in the fifties, pay the same rent/council tax band as the semis on our estate and have the same 3 bedrooms. I asked if I could appeal the decision and was told there was no appeal process. Totally puzzled by this

Me too.
A semi can qualify whereas an end of terrace doesn't. Can't see the logic in that.

I don’t really see how going by the type of property even makes sense. I understand that using an EPC report makes sense as some homes will have better insulation than others, but ruling out a mid terrace with no insulation and single glazing but giving it to a semi detached with better heat retention makes no sense. The type of property for the most part is irrelevant. 

Because different types of property in theory will retain heat better than others.  A flat is adjoined by usually at least two others, and possibly above and below.  A semi-detached will have three external walls rather than the 4 of a detached house, and a bungalow loses proportionally more heat out of the roof than a house with two or more floors.

I don't understand the end terrace ≠ semi-detached either, but then a maisonette counts as a flat regardless of what type of building it's in.

They don't use actual EPC ratings, by the way, just the property info from it if need be.

It's all notional, no room for nuance or reality.

ronrobred said:

I have been onto the WHD scheme and was told I was in the cusp and do not qualify. I am on UC and work part time, up until the government involvement I received the discount for the past 3yrs, since claiming UC. I am in an end of terrace property, built in the fifties, pay the same rent/council tax band as the semis on our estate and have the same 3 bedrooms. I asked if I could appeal the decision and was told there was no appeal process. Totally puzzled by this

What do you mean by 'on the cusp'?

If you know your floor area (+14% if you've got the info from an EPC) you can see for yourself whether your property should have qualified or not https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1115362/whd-eligibility-statement-2022-england-wales-annex-1.xlsx
(Or tell us and we can find it for you, if the spreadsheet is too much.)

Muttleythefrog

grimmyth said:

HillStreetBlues said:

ronrobred said:

I have been onto the WHD scheme and was told I was in the cusp and do not qualify. I am on UC and work part time, up until the government involvement I received the discount for the past 3yrs, since claiming UC. I am in an end of terrace property, built in the fifties, pay the same rent/council tax band as the semis on our estate and have the same 3 bedrooms. I asked if I could appeal the decision and was told there was no appeal process. Totally puzzled by this

Me too.
A semi can qualify whereas an end of terrace doesn't. Can't see the logic in that.

I don’t really see how going by the type of property even makes sense. I understand that using an EPC report makes sense as some homes will have better insulation than others, but ruling out a mid terrace with no insulation and single glazing but giving it to a semi detached with better heat retention makes no sense. The type of property for the most part is irrelevant. 

Type of property is a key factor (not only in determining entitlement but also in cost to heat) and as above the EPC rating itself seems unused for this exercise by government.. an exercise which is an impressive screw-up even by their standards.... we've seen glaring anomalies and people getting it when clearly not meeting the criteria. Like many I miss out after years of getting the WHD... but then I've moved to a modern flat from a 50s semi.... and annual gas use has gone from about 11000kWh to around 2500kWh (and we're additionally using gas for cooking in the flat and thermostat higher) and this is almost exclusively due to the better insulation and property type... so can't really complain unlike many... might change my mind in summer mind you... I can see the place being far too hot and the fans moving in.