Warm home discount

Anonymum

Hi

can someone tell me how this scheme works? 

I got a letter back in august 2022 saying I could be eligible. I rang up and was told I am eligible and my energy provider will automatically apply the discount. I’ve been checking monthly but it’s never been added. I know from their (supplier) website that they say you don’t need to contact them. It’ll get done. But how long can you wait for it? We’re into a new tax year so surely it should have been applied already? 

Thanks 

Spoonie_Turtle

First thing to ask is are you with the same supplier as you were in August 2022?  If not, your supplier at that time has to try to get the WHD to you.

If you are with the same supplier, you can contact them to chase it up.  They may not be able to help, in which case you would need to ring the helpline again, persevere even though it may sound like it's closed.  You might have to try a few times to get through to someone who can help.

The way it works is the government has to tell your supplier to pay you.  If they don't, your supplier can't do anything.  (But contacting your supplier first just helps to eliminate the possibility that they dropped the ball on your payment.)

If you can't get anywhere with those routes, tell your MP*.  It's been a bit if a shambles this year with people not getting it who should have, and some who ought not to have been eligible (because they don't claim a qualifying benefit) apparently getting it. 

*I know depending on who your MP is this might seem a ludicrous suggestion, but sometimes you just have to try because there's no other way to turn.  And you never know!  Nothing to lose by trying.

MikeJones123

You should have received the money by end of March 2023
I'm having same issue. I was told  by helpline in January 2023  that I would be entitled to it.
I have messaged my supplier ( EDF) and has raised a complaint. They are still looking into it.
I have also emailed Ofgem and I have had an automatic reply saying they will reply within 10 days.
Just wondering if any other people are having this issue.

__Selina__

I'm with Octopus and am having a similar problem. I received a letter back in November saying that I was entitled to the discount and would automatically receive it and didn't need to do anything at all (it would be added to my account by my energy supplier) by March 31st at the latest. I didn't get it. After an initial email where they didn't read what I wrote (that I had proof) and they asked me if it had been confirmed that I could get it, Octopus took another 10 days to reply saying that as they haven't received confirmation from the DWP themselves, they can't do anything about it. They said if the DWP don't confirm I am entitled by the end of April (in 13 working days) then I will not get the discount at all! So I tried the Warm Home Discount helpline, which is closed now (it's only open until the 31st of March, which is ridiculous in cases like this), and emailed them, but like MikeJones123 mentioned, it says they will reply within 10 days. If that's 10 working days, then it's probably too late for them to do anything for me, with Octopus saying I only have until the end of April for the DWP to contact them. As a last resort, I have contacted my local MP. I need this discount, I am absolutely entitled to this discount, and yet either the DWP or Octopus is failing me. It's just not right. 

If anyone has any other advice about what to do, please comment! 

__Selina__

PS I am new so unable to edit my post yet. I meant to say that I have not changed suppliers so that's not the issue.  

Spoonie_Turtle

__Selina__ said:

… As a last resort, I have contacted my local MP. I need this discount, I am absolutely entitled to this discount, and yet either the DWP or Octopus is failing me. It's just not right. 

It's the government failing you (not 100% sure whether it's BEIS or DWP).  Octopus are absolutely correct, they cannot pay you unless the government tells them to.

pochase

Have you checked on their web site if you live in a property that qualifies for WHD?

You might qualify by being on benefits, but this winte ris the first time also you property needs to qualify. What is the size, age and type (flat, terrassed, edetached) of your property?

Spoonie_Turtle

pochase said:

Have you checked on their web site if you live in a property that qualifies for WHD?

You might qualify by being on benefits, but this winte ris the first time also you property needs to qualify. What is the size, age and type (flat, terrassed, edetached) of your property?

They got a letter though.  If the letter was sent by mistake and they actually don't qualify, it's still on the government for promising this money to someone and not delivering.

__Selina__

pochase said:

Have you checked on their web site if you live in a property that qualifies for WHD?

You might qualify by being on benefits, but this winte ris the first time also you property needs to qualify. What is the size, age and type (flat, terrassed, edetached) of your property?

Spoonie_Turtle is right in saying I got a letter. As explained above, it said I would receive the discount automatically and I didn't need to do anything.  

MikeJones123

MikeJones123 said:

You should have received the money by end of March 2023
I'm having same issue. I was told  by helpline in January 2023  that I would be entitled to it.
I have messaged my supplier ( EDF) and has raised a complaint. They are still looking into it.
I have also emailed Ofgem and I have had an automatic reply saying they will reply within 10 days.
Just wondering if any other people are having this issue.

Update :
I received a letter today 14/4/23 from Ofgem, saying they could not verify that I was on tax credits from the info I supplied the Warm Home Discount helpline, ( I gave them my NI number which is what they said they required ). They have asked me to send them a copy of my Tax Credit award. I have emailed them with this info. Will let you know the outcome.

__Selina__

MikeJones123 said:

MikeJones123 said:

You should have received the money by end of March 2023
I'm having same issue. I was told  by helpline in January 2023  that I would be entitled to it.
I have messaged my supplier ( EDF) and has raised a complaint. They are still looking into it.
I have also emailed Ofgem and I have had an automatic reply saying they will reply within 10 days.
Just wondering if any other people are having this issue.

Update :
I received a letter today 14/4/23 from Ofgem, saying they could not verify that I was on tax credits from the info I supplied the Warm Home Discount helpline, ( I gave them my NI number which is what they said they required ). They have asked me to send them a copy of my Tax Credit award. I have emailed them with this info. Will let you know the outcome.

Best of luck! I will reply in this thread if I hear from anyone too. I did get a reply from my local MP the same day and he said:

"We have already had a similar case where the deadline has passed but the delay is due to the energy company rather than the constituent, and which we have raised with Ministers, so we will do the same in your case, and let you know where we get to."