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

AssemblyGMX

Thanks very much, Largs.  That is reassuring.  The problem with my application for The Warm Home Discount Broader Group Scotland seems to lie with AgilityEco.  Octopus defer the task to AgilityEco and they (this has happened in a previous year) seem only to consider the English/Welsh system. 

As result when they refer for Audit they seem to insist on DWP confirming low income and eligibility.  DWP refuse to do this and, incorrectly, insist that, to be eligible for the Broader Group Scotland the applicant must also be in receipt of a means tested benefit. Previously DWP refused to provide income information by insisting that I was not eligible.  Of course I did not receive a means tested benefit and it resulted in delay and DWP insinuating that I was trying to cheat.  Because this was resolved previously I hoped it would be problem free this time but, unfortunately, that has not happened.

Like your situation with E-on, Octopus, for The Warm Home Discount Broader Group Scotland applicants only require applicants, like me, to meet their low income threshhold and be in receipt of a Disability Benefit.

As long ago as June this year, when I applied, I sent the required documentation to Octopus and directly to AgilityEco.  AgilityEco seemed to ignore this information and, requesting audit, wanted DWP to confirm my income.  It was upsetting but, with help from Octopus, AgilityEco now accept the documentation I sent to them.  There was miscommunication but it seems to be almost sorted now.

Your reply is very reassuring, Largs, thank you.

Largs

Yes the Scotland scheme is quite different so having both is confusing.  As long as you get the rebate.  The Octopus scheme used to be quite rigid but when they took over Co-op Energy they adopted the Co-op's criteria which opened it up more.  I think who they select is random.  Good luck....

Newcad

Again sorry but BOTH the Scottish and the English/Welsh rules  for this year state that you must be on a means tested benefit to be eligible for the WHD.

"A low income threshold" is the way that you qualify for a means tested benefit.

You may feel hard done by because the Octopus webpages are not clear, but I still have to say that Agility are correct.

Largs

That is not the case I'm afraid.  I am on the application page with E-on and one of the following must apply.

Which of these best describes your situation?

A total annual household income of £20,328 or less (before tax and National Insurance)

In receipt of the Savings Element of Pension Credit only

In receipt of Council Tax Reduction (excludes the 25% single person’s discount)

In receipt of Income Support

In receipt of Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA)

In receipt of Income-related Employment & Support Allowance (ESA)

In receipt of Housing Benefit

In receipt of universal credit, and has an earned income of between zero and £1,694 in at least one of the twelve preceding assessment periods.

AND one of the following

Which of these best describes your situation?

In receipt of Personal Independence Payments (PIP)

In receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) any disability premium (all rates) or disabled child element of Universal Credit or Adult Disability Payment or Child disability payment

In receipt of any Income-related benefit which includes: a) Carer’s Premium or Carer’s Allowance (for someone within the household). b) OR Attendance Allowance (for applicant or their partner) c) OR Industrial Injuries Benefit

Hold a Maternity Exemption Certificate (MATEX)

Are aged 62 and over (OR in receipt of any pensioner premium)

Have a medically dependant illness (disability or mobility issue)

Have a dependent child under 5 (who normally resides with the applicant)

Have a dependent child aged 5 – 16, or under 18 if in full time education (who normally resides with the applicant)

In receipt of the limited capability for work element of Universal Credit

Largs

For Octopus Energy 

Which option best describes your situation?

Select the most relevant option...

I receive the Savings Element of Pension Credit only
I receive Council Tax Reduction (excludes the 25% single person’s discount)
I receive Income SupportI receive Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA)
I receive Income-related Employment & Support Allowance (ESA)
I receive Housing BenefitI receive Universal Credit, and have an earned income of between zero and £1,694 in at least one of the twelve preceding assessment periods
I have a total annual household income of £20,328 or less (before tax and National Insurance)

AND one of the following

Which option best describes your situation?

Select the most relevant option...

I receive any Income-related benefit which includes: - Carer’s Premium or Carer’s Allowance (for someone within the household) OR - Attendance Allowance (for applicant or their partner) OR - Industrial Injuries Benefit
I receive Personal Independence Payments (PIP)I receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA), any disability premium (all rates) or disabled child element of Universal Credit
I receive Adult Disability Payment (ADP)I hold a Maternity Exemption Certificate (MATEX)
I am aged 62 and over (OR in receipt of any pensioner premium)I have a dependent child under 5 (who normally resides with the applicant)
I have a dependent child aged 5 – 16, or under 18 if in full time education (who normally resides with the applicant)
I receive the limited capability for work element of Universal CreditI have a medically dependent illness (disability or mobility issue)

Newcad

OK, I'm out. - It won't make any difference.

Spoonie_Turtle

Newcad said:

OK, I'm out. - It won't make any difference.

Did you see the bit I pasted from the government consultation? 

That explains there's a minimim but suppliers can open it up more broadly if approved by Ofgem.  Which now I've thought about it may make sense as they have an obligation to spend a certain amount of money, and might not have enough Scottish customers claiming means-tested benefits to be able to spend it all.  (It also means I was wrong about there being no leeway, even though most official info makes it sound like there is none.)

AssemblyGMX

Largs said:

For Octopus Energy 

Which option best describes your situation?

Select the most relevant option...

I receive the Savings Element of Pension Credit only
I receive Council Tax Reduction (excludes the 25% single person’s discount)
I receive Income SupportI receive Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA)
I receive Income-related Employment & Support Allowance (ESA)
I receive Housing BenefitI receive Universal Credit, and have an earned income of between zero and £1,694 in at least one of the twelve preceding assessment periods
I have a total annual household income of £20,328 or less (before tax and National Insurance)

AND one of the following

Which option best describes your situation?

Select the most relevant option...

I receive any Income-related benefit which includes: - Carer’s Premium or Carer’s Allowance (for someone within the household) OR - Attendance Allowance (for applicant or their partner) OR - Industrial Injuries Benefit
I receive Personal Independence Payments (PIP)I receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA), any disability premium (all rates) or disabled child element of Universal Credit
I receive Adult Disability Payment (ADP)I hold a Maternity Exemption Certificate (MATEX)
I am aged 62 and over (OR in receipt of any pensioner premium)I have a dependent child under 5 (who normally resides with the applicant)
I have a dependent child aged 5 – 16, or under 18 if in full time education (who normally resides with the applicant)
I receive the limited capability for work element of Universal CreditI have a medically dependent illness (disability or mobility issue)

That's  perfect, thanks very much for posting the criteria, Largs.  Eon ilooks identical to Octopus for The Warm Home discount criteria Broader Group Scotland.  Spoonie_Turtle understands but I'm sorry if  Newcad does not believe us.  I have been eligible and have received  the £150 every year since 2021 from Octopus Energy. I am very grateful for it.

Newcad

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Newcad said:

OK, I'm out. - It won't make any difference.

Did you see the bit I pasted from the government consultation? 

I did, however a 'consultation' document is just a discussion of possibilities and not the actual scheme rules as made by legislation.

It's also quite clear that  Agility Eco also believe that the WHD scheme rules apply and not any 'discretionary rules'.

If there has been some discretion agreed/allowed by Ofgem for Octopus this year I can't find it. (And apparently neither can Agility Eco).

So unless the OP can get Octopus to confirm that it has discretion agreed with Ofgem, and tell Agility Eco to allow their application, then that's that.
Which is why I said that "It won't make any difference" to the outcome whether we agree or disagree here.

Only Octopus (or Ofgem) can confirm or deny if they have such discretion, and only Octopus can tell Agility Eco to use any such discretion.

Spoonie_Turtle

I understand.  On Ofgem's WHD page they do say it's a possibility:

"The standard criteria are based on a variation of the Cold Weather Payments group and low-income working families in receipt of in-work benefits and with a child under 5 or a disabled child. The standard criteria for the Broader Group can be found in the guidance. However, your supplier may have additional eligibility criteria … "
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-and-social-schemes/warm-home-discount-whd/warm-home-discount-whd-eligibility

However,

Newcad said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Newcad said:

OK, I'm out. - It won't make any difference.

Did you see the bit I pasted from the government consultation? 

So unless the OP can get Octopus to confirm that it has discretion agreed with Ofgem, and tell Agility Eco to allow their application, then that's that.

…

Only Octopus (or Ofgem) can confirm or deny if they have such discretion, and only Octopus can tell Agility Eco to use any such discretion.

Agreed.  Let's hope Octopus can be reasoned with to see the problem and sort it out.