We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Am I really eligible for this

NotArobot24
NotArobot24 Posts: 26 Forumite
10 Posts First Anniversary Name Dropper
My energy company recently credited me with £150 Warm Home Discount, my concern is whether this is some sort of mistake that may be clawed back later leaving me in debt.

In the past I had money that I think everyone got during the energy crisis.

I have also had Cold Weather Payments but those are few and far between, I think just one last Winter.

However, when I looked into other things I have always been told NO, some were because of Energy Performance Certificate was too good, I live in a flat that was built not that long ago and I gather properties built after a certain date are deemed energy efficient, so mine got a C I think, which meant not eligible.

I am on the Priory Register, not sure if that in itself is a factor.

I am not a pensioner yet.

I have blue badge although not sure how they would know that as nobody asked.

I have not put heating on yet, I usually wait until December 1st then see how cold it gets, sometimes I hold out until January or February.

My concern is the usage just rockets, for example last November with no heating on I used 12m3 but in January I used 82m3.  I know this is all going to depend on how often you have it on, what temperature you set to trigger it and what temperature you set.  

I tried to match what my sister has (which I think she copied from online somewhere) so we could compare but mine used more than hers. So I ended up reducing mine

Maybe you can figure out what is wrong

06:30 to 09:00 (2.5h) @ 21 C
12:00 to 14:00 (2h) @ 21 C
17:00 to 23:00 (6.5h) @21 C  

23:00 to 06:30 overnight @ 18C

Comments

  • Tescodealqueen
    Tescodealqueen Posts: 1,284 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I believe this payment was extended to people on an income related benefit by the government for this winter.
    This might explain it presume the list of those eligible was produced from DWP records
  • KxMx
    KxMx Posts: 11,309 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    As you've had Cold Weather Payment in the past, this suggests a means tested benefit which qualifies you for the Winter Fuel Payment. 

    https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme/low-income-England-Wales

    The previous criteria of also having a high energy cost (based on home age & size) was removed by Labour this year. 
  • Ayr_Rage
    Ayr_Rage Posts: 3,199 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    What time do you wake up and go to bed?

    I have my heating coming on an hour before I normally get up and at the end of the day it goes off an hour before I go to bed.

    Having the heating on until 2300 seems rather late unless you are a night owl.
  • born_again
    born_again Posts: 21,735 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Sixth Anniversary Name Dropper
    I find that leaving the heating on all the time is cheaper.
    House is occupied 24/7 Mrs suffers with feeling cold. Sat under a heated blanket at the moment.

     07:00 to 21:45 19.5 C
     21:45 to 07:00 18.5 C

    This was increased by 0.5 C a couple of weeks ago. & will get increased as weather gets cooler in 0.5C steps. Up to a max of 21C even in sub zero temps.


    Life in the slow lane
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 352.4K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.7K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 245.4K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 601.2K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.6K Life & Family
  • 259.3K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.7K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.