Warm Home discount awarded but I don't pay the bills

kgrace94 · 20 October 2023 at 12:52PM

I am a carer for my mother and also on UC, she doesn't qualify herself for the WHD but today I have received a later saying I have qualified for the WHD this year and it will automatically be applied to my electricity account.

One problem. She's the homeowner and relevant billpayer and the one with all the accounts, so how are they going to apply the discount to me?!

Is this an error, just formality to send the letters out to those who qualify and because I don't have the relevant electricity account to deduct from then I just won't be paid?

Spoonie_Turtle · 20 October 2023 at 1:32PM

kgrace94 said:

I am a carer for my mother and also on UC, she doesn't qualify herself for the WHD but today I have received a later saying I have qualified for the WHD this year and it will automatically be applied to my electricity account.

One problem. She's the homeowner and relevant billpayer and the one with all the accounts, so how are they going to apply the discount to me?!

Is this an error, just formality to send the letters out to those who qualify and because I don't have the relevant electricity account to deduct from then I just won't be paid?

Is your registered address your mother's home? If so, it's highly likely it will be credited to the account for the property regardless of whose name is on it.

(I haven't read te documents yet for this year so can't say for a certainty. But it seemed to be what happened for some people last year.)

kgrace94 · 20 October 2023 at 1:37PM

Spoonie_Turtle said:

kgrace94 said:

I am a carer for my mother and also on UC, she doesn't qualify herself for the WHD but today I have received a later saying I have qualified for the WHD this year and it will automatically be applied to my electricity account.

One problem. She's the homeowner and relevant billpayer and the one with all the accounts, so how are they going to apply the discount to me?!

Is this an error, just formality to send the letters out to those who qualify and because I don't have the relevant electricity account to deduct from then I just won't be paid?

Is your registered address your mother's home? If so, it's highly likely it will be credited to the account for the property regardless of whose name is on it.

(I haven't read te documents yet for this year so can't say for a certainty. But it seemed to be what happened for some people last year.)

Yes correct the address is my mothers home, as we still live together. That would make sense though, thanks!

Jyana · 20 October 2023 at 5:16PM

Once again, same as last year, they are failing to keep to their own outlines they have set out in their documentation.

Occupants of a property who do not have a direct relationship with an electricity supplier are not eligible for a rebate; a person must be a customer of an electricity supplier and be an account holder or named on an electricity bill to be eligible.

Source

Not that I begrudge anyone who does manage to get it and needs it!

Spoonie_Turtle · 20 October 2023 at 8:10PM

Jyana said:

Once again, same as last year, they are failing to keep to their own outlines they have set out in their documentation.

Occupants of a property who do not have a direct relationship with an electricity supplier are not eligible for a rebate; a person must be a customer of an electricity supplier and be an account holder or named on an electricity bill to be eligible.

Source

Not that I begrudge anyone who does manage to get it and needs it!

That paragraph you've quoted continues:
"For that reason, properties where the electricity supply comes via an intermediary, like Park Homes, caravans, and annexes to properties, are not eligible. A person living in a care home, including residential homes and nursing homes, would also not be eligible for a rebate, as they would not have a direct relationship with the electricity supplier for the property."

And then
"Households living in commercial properties and domestic properties on a commercial electricity tariff are also not eligible for a rebate.

Households living in Park Homes are not eligible for a rebate. Many residents of Park Homes pay for their electricity supply to their site owner and are therefore not a direct customer of an electricity supplier.:

In the context, plus everywhere else it talks about 'households', that seems fairly clear it means the occupants of a property have to pay their domestic energy supplier directly (rather than a landlord, or a management company, or all-inclusive bills) - not that the specific claimant has to have the bill in their own name.