Warm Home Discount Broader Group, Scotland. Octopus Energy's own criteria.

AssemblyGMX

I have applied under Octopus Energy's own criteria - no means tested benefit requirement: Disability benefit and, specified by Octopus, low income.  Nothing to do with DWP means tested benefit or Core Group requirement. It is The Broader Group Scotland.

On application I also submitted proof/documents of DLA (care and mobility) and low income evidence  to both Octopus and, separately, also to Agility Eco who run the scheme for Octopus Energy.  I have been referred for audit by Agility Eco.  Agility Eco seem to have disregarded my evidence.

AgilityEco seem to misunderstand Octopus's own criteria and refer to DWP for audit.  DWP only confirm means tested benefits and won't confirm my DLA or low income

My communications seem to have fallen on deaf ears and I am struggling trying to communicate the criteria.  DWP cannot confirm my income because I do not receive a means tested benefit.

I wonder if anyone here has also applied for The Broader Group Scotland, which is different from the English/Welsh system, and have struggled with this  

I'm struggling to communicate effectively with AgilityEco that DWP are not  directly involved with Octopus Energy's own Broader Group (not Core) Scotland criteria.

If this would be better on The Energy or Disability forum could it be moved there, please?  Thank you for any help.

Newcad

AssemblyGMX said:

I have applied under Octopus Energy's own criteria - no means tested benefit requirement: 

I am not sure what you are meaning by that - If it doesn't require you to have a means tested benefit then it is NOT the Warm Home Discount.

If you do not get one of the specfied means teated benefits then you you are not eligible for the WHD.
Only those with a means tested benefit are eligible for the Warm Home Discount - there are no exceptions.

The only difference between where you live is that in England and Wales everyone on a means tested benefit gets it without having to apply, but in Scotlend the Broader Group do still have to apply and do still have to get a means tested benefit.

However the various supply companies do have their own help schemes that are nothing to do with the Warm Home Discount and you may be eligible for those without being on a means tested benefit.

EDIT after a quick check :-

When you say "Octopus Energy's own criteria - no means tested benefit requirement" then I believe that you are thinking of the Octopus Energy "Octo Assist" scheme.
That scheme has different criteria than the Warm Home Discount and it doesn't require that you get a means tested benefiy to be eligible for help.

It can also provide other things, such as a free electric wrap/overblanket,  as well as possibly helping with bills.
https://octopus.energy/blog/octo-assist/

If you haven't done already then I suggest that you apply to Octo Assist.

Spoonie_Turtle

Newcad said:

AssemblyGMX said:

I have applied under Octopus Energy's own criteria - no means tested benefit requirement: 

I am not sure what you are meaning by that - If it doesn't require you to have a means tested benefit then it is NOT the Warm Home Discount.

If you do not get one of the specfied means teated benefits then you you are not eligible for the WHD.
Only those with a means tested benefit are eligible for the Warm Home Discount - there are no exceptions.

The only difference between where you live is that in England and Wales everyone on a means tested benefit gets it without having to apply, but in Scotlend the Broader Group do still have to apply and do still have to get a means tested benefit.
…

However the various supply companies do have their own help schemes that are nothing to do with the Warm Home Discount and you may be eligible for those without being on a means tested benefit.

EDIT after a quick check :-

When you say "Octopus Energy's own criteria - no means tested benefit requirement" then I believe that you are thinking of the Octopus Energy "Octo Assist" scheme.
That scheme has different criteria than the Warm Home Discount 

Weirdly Octopus' own WHD page does mention 'on a low income and/or in receipt of means-tested benefits' for the Broader Group in Scotland (but I haven't found anything more specific).

"Broader Group

If you are on a low income and/or in receipt of means tested benefits you may be eligible. Applications are currently closed and will open shortly"

https://octopus.energy/blog/warm-home-discount/#faq-scotland

[However since the difference came about due to the property data being held in E&W for the high energy costs requirement and not in S, which has since been removed, it raises the question whether Scotland can't also have an automatic scheme now.  But that's a separate issue.]

AssemblyGMX

Thank you but it reallly is definitely The Warm Home Discount Broader Group Scotland and Octopus energy have their own criteria.  The money (£150) comes from The Government Scheme and is paid to the energy account.  I'll do my best to find the link, please be kind enough to bear with me. Octo Assist  is something different.  

The format is not perfect but I have copied and pasted this from my Octopus Energy Account:  (You don't see the details/criteria until you log in and apply for The Warm Home Discount Broader Group Scotland. It is different from The Core Group  All the information is set out via a dropdown list)  There  is no requirement to be in receipt of a means tested benefit and the only requirements have been "Low income" and "Disability Benefits." The criteria this year is the same as in previous years from Octopus.

Copied and pasted:  "If you are on other qualifying means tested benefits or other criteria set by your energy supplier, you do still need to apply."  I applied through Octopus Energy.  The other/or criteria are "Low Income" and Disability Benefit" and a means tested benefit was not required by Octopus Energy.

Octopus Energy's own scheme is:

"Your Warm Home Discount applications

---

TAX YEAR 2025/26

low income threshold

disability benefits

awaiting customer evidence

TAX YEAR 2024/25

low income threshold

disability benefits

approved

TAX YEAR 2023/24

low income threshold

disability benefits

approved

TAX YEAR  2022/23

low income threshold

disability benefits

approved

TAX YEAR 2021/22

low income threshold

disability benefits

approved"

The £150 Warm Home Discount, once approved, is listed in my energy account payments received.

I'm sorry this is so confusing but I really am being truthful.  The problem seems to be with AgilityEco insisting on audit based on DWP guidelines which do not relate to the Warm Home Discount Broader Group Scotland.

I hope I am not being in any way disrespectful - I am quite stressed about this.

Newcad

I'm sorry but as far as I can see AgilityEco are correct, the WHD rules for this year state that you have to be getting a Means Tested benefit.

There is no leeway in the WHD scheme for suppliers to have their own rules - the WHD is a government scheme with government rules.

Any other rules are not the WHD, they are some different sheme.

Sorry again, but I think that you have read something that is incorrect and does not apply to the WHD this year.

For example last years rules were quite different to this years, is it perhaps something from last year that you are reading?

Spoonie_Turtle

Newcad said:

I'm sorry but as far as I can see AgilityEco are correct, the WHD rules for this year state that you have to be getting a Means Tested benefit.

There is no leeway in the WHD scheme for suppliers to have their own rules - the WHD is a government scheme with government rules.

Any other rules are not the WHD, they are some different sheme.

Sorry again, but I think that you have read something that is incorrect and does not apply to the WHD this year.

I agree there's no leeway but it seems OP definitely is reading from from Octopus' own WHD page (which I linked) and application.  It's very odd.

Newcad

Ah, I had somehow missed your FAQ link but I did just come across this one:

https://octopus.energy/blog/warm-home-discount/

I think that is the one that @AssemblyGMX is referring to.

Unfortunately the information there is simply wrong.

In particular in the second paragraph where it says: "are on a low income or ..." it should read "are on a low income and ..."

There is a big difference between the meaning of or  as opposed to and

AssemblyGMX

Newcad said:

I'm sorry but as far as I can see AgilityEco are correct, the WHD rules for this year state that you have to be getting a Means Tested benefit.

There is no leeway in the WHD scheme for suppliers to have their own rules - the WHD is a government scheme with government rules.

Any other rules are not the WHD, they are some different sheme.

Sorry again, but I think that you have read something that is incorrect and does not apply to the WHD this year.

For example last years rules were quite different to this years, is it perhaps something from last year that you are reading?

Octopus Energy themselves disagree:  Their criiteria for The Broader Group Scotland does not require a means tested benefit.  Octopus Energy does have absolute leeway and  it is The Warm Home Discount Broader Group Scotland Scheme - different from England and Wales. AgilitylEco are probably correct for the English and Welsh system.

I don't wish to be argumentative but Octopus Energy confirm my understanding is correct - I spoke with them and this was confirmed.

Muttleythefrog

AssemblyGMX said:

Newcad said:

I'm sorry but as far as I can see AgilityEco are correct, the WHD rules for this year state that you have to be getting a Means Tested benefit.

There is no leeway in the WHD scheme for suppliers to have their own rules - the WHD is a government scheme with government rules.

Any other rules are not the WHD, they are some different sheme.

Sorry again, but I think that you have read something that is incorrect and does not apply to the WHD this year.

For example last years rules were quite different to this years, is it perhaps something from last year that you are reading?

Octopus Energy themselves disagree:  Their criiteria for The Broader Group Scotland does not require a means tested benefit.  Octopus Energy does have absolute leeway and  it is The Warm Home Discount Broader Group Scotland Scheme - different from England and Wales. AgilitylEco are probably correct for the English and Welsh system.

I don't wish to be argumentative but Octopus Energy confirm my understanding is correct - I spoke with them and this was confirmed.

Is the way forward for you then to try to either get in writing (email or chatlog etc) the Octopus confirmation of criteria which you can get to AgilityEco or ask Octopus to engage on your behalf with them?

Spoonie_Turtle

As an aside, I found this (whilst looking for something else) in last year's consultation on the expansion of the scheme, which may explain why Octopus says they have broader criteria:

"Instead, a Broader Group that previously applied in England and Wales was retained. Participating energy suppliers are set a target for the minimum number of Broader Group customers that they must provide with rebates. The suppliers are then responsible for administering this, including managing the application process and communications with customers. Although the government sets minimum eligibility criteria in regulations, energy suppliers may set additional criteria, subject to approval by the scheme administrator, Ofgem. Funding for rebates under the Broader Group is finite, therefore each supplier decides how they award rebates to eligible households."
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/expanding-the-warm-home-discount-scheme-2025-to-2026/expanding-the-warm-home-discount-scheme-2025-to-2026-consultation-document-accessible-webpage#the-proposals

[Not that this helps the OP in any practical way, sorry, but just thought others might appreciate the potential explanation to clear up our confusion.]

Largs

I'm E-on Next (and in Scotland) and I also qualify as low income, so similar criteria to Octopus.  I guess if I was asked to verify I would need to send the P60 I get in April.  DWP do send letters confirming DLA every April too.