Warm Home Discount help - Scotland

HandyMandy

I’m trying to apply on behalf of my 84-year-old uncle, who is with Scottish Power. He lives alone and his only income is the state pension. He doesn’t receive, and doesn’t wish to apply for, any benefits.

I’m applying under the broader eligibility group (pension age and low income), but the Scottish Power website won’t allow the application to proceed unless the customer is in receipt of benefits.

I successfully applied for my 81-year-old mum via EDF under their broader criteria (over 60 and income under £25k).

Do utility companies set their own criteria for the broader eligibility groups, or is this determined by the Scottish Government? I’ve tried to find clarification online but haven’t had any luck.

Many thanks.

p00hsticks

Well officially State Pension is classed as a Benefit, but are they specifically excluding that and insisting on Pension Credit, which is means tested ? 

Does your Uncle actually live in Scotland ? My mother is with Scottish Power and is in the South of England

FrugaiMacDugal

Sorry, can't help with your SP query.

If your uncle lives in Scotland he should receive Pension Age Winter Heating Payment automatically.

p00hsticks

FrugaiMacDugal said:

Sorry, can't help with your SP query.

If your uncle lives in Scotland he should receive Pension Age Winter Heating Payment automatically.

That's a different scheme though - it;s the Scottish Equivalent of the Winter Fuel Psyment in England and Wales. 
The Warm home discount is a government led initiative but relies on your energy provider having signed up to it. 
Warm Home Discount Scheme: Overview - GOV.UK
Having read the pages linked to above, I'm a bit surprised the OP's mother qualified as that does suggest that you need to be in receipt of some form of means tested benefit, whether in Scotland or England/Wales. although I believe that the criteria have been slackened a bit this year by some energy comanies, which may be what's happened here. 

Spoonie_Turtle

The energy companies in Scotland do potentially have discretion to broaden the criteria beyond those mandated, if approved by Ofgem.

However someone else here came up against an obstacle with Octopus, Octopus clearly stating their criteria included low income but the company handling applications insisting on proof of means-tested benefits.


Okay I've looked at SP's page and their set of criteria sounds like it always used to be for the whole of Britain:

"Eligibility Criteria – Broader Group (Scotland)

You must be in receipt of one benefit from the Primary Eligibility group and one element from the secondary Eligibility group.

Primary Eligibility

1. Income Support

2. Income related Employment and Support Allowance (IR ESA) which includes a support component

3. IR ESA and who is a member of the work-related activity group

4. Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

5. A person who is in receipt of Housing Benefit

6. Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP)

7. Pension Savings Credit

8. Carer’s Allowance/Carer’s Support Payment

9. Child Disability Payment

10. Adult Disability Payment

11. Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance

Secondary Eligibility

1. Has parental responsibility for a child under the age of 5 who ordinarily resides with that person

2. A child under 19 in full time education who ordinarily resides with that person

3. Is aged 62 and over (or in receipt of any pensioner premium)

4. Is in receipt of a disabled child premium or disability child element

5. Is in receipt of a disability premium, enhanced disability premium or severe disability premium

6. Is in receipt of a pensioner premium or higher pensioner premium

7. Has limited capability for work and work-related activity (Universal Credit only)"

https://www.scottishpower.co.uk/support-centre/warm-home-discount

HandyMandy

Thanks for your responses, I checked Octopus and they have similar criteria to EDF, I’ve coped below from their website:

Which option best describes your situation?

Select the most relevant option...

1. I receive the Savings Element of Pension Credit only. 

2. I receive Council Tax Reduction (excludes the 25% single person’s discount). 

3. I receive Income SupportI receive Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA). 

4. I receive Income-related Employment & Support Allowance (ESA). 

5. I receive Housing Benefit. 

6. I receive Universal Credit, and have an earned income of between zero and £1,694 in at least one of the twelve preceding assessment periods. 

7. I have a total annual household income of £20,328 or less (before tax and National Insurance. 

Had my uncle been with Octopus I would have chosen option 7 above (household income of less than £20,328). The next page shows the following:

Which option best describes your situation?

Select the most relevant option...

1. 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 BenefitI receive Personal Independence Payments (PIP). 

2. I receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA), any disability premium (all rates) or disabled child element of Universal CreditI receive Adult Disability Payment (ADP). 

3. I hold a Maternity Exemption Certificate (MATEX). 

4. I am aged 62 and over (OR in receipt of any pensioner premium). 

5. I have a dependent child under 5 (who normally resides with the applicant). 

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

7. I receive the limited capability for work element of Universal Credit. 

8. I have a medically dependent illness (disability or mobility issue). 

Choosing option 4 would have meant he qualified for WHD. 

It seems that EDF and Octopus (and maybe some others) apply different eligibility criteria from Scottish Power. It feels unreasonable that access to the Warm Home Discount depends on which energy provider you’re with. In my uncle’s case it isn’t critical, as he can manage his heating and bills, but other pensioners on a similar income may not be so fortunate.

sheramber

HandyMandy said:

Thanks for your responses, I checked Octopus and they have similar criteria to EDF, I’ve coped below from their website:

Which option best describes your situation?

Select the most relevant option...

1. I receive the Savings Element of Pension Credit only. 

2. I receive Council Tax Reduction (excludes the 25% single person’s discount). 

3. I receive Income SupportI receive Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA). 

4. I receive Income-related Employment & Support Allowance (ESA). 

5. I receive Housing Benefit. 

6. I receive Universal Credit, and have an earned income of between zero and £1,694 in at least one of the twelve preceding assessment periods. 

7. I have a total annual household income of £20,328 or less (before tax and National Insurance. 

Had my uncle been with Octopus I would have chosen option 7 above (household income of less than £20,328). The next page shows the following:

Which option best describes your situation?

Select the most relevant option...

1. 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 BenefitI receive Personal Independence Payments (PIP). 

2. I receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA), any disability premium (all rates) or disabled child element of Universal CreditI receive Adult Disability Payment (ADP). 

3. I hold a Maternity Exemption Certificate (MATEX). 

4. I am aged 62 and over (OR in receipt of any pensioner premium). 

5. I have a dependent child under 5 (who normally resides with the applicant). 

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

7. I receive the limited capability for work element of Universal Credit. 

8. I have a medically dependent illness (disability or mobility issue). 

Choosing option 4 would have meant he qualified for WHD. 

It seems that EDF and Octopus (and maybe some others) apply different eligibility criteria from Scottish Power. It feels unreasonable that access to the Warm Home Discount depends on which energy provider you’re with. In my uncle’s case it isn’t critical, as he can manage his heating and bills, but other pensioners on a similar income may not be so fortunate.

They can  change to a supplier where they would qualify for the discount.

Torry_Quine

Due to this thread I've applied to Scottish Power as I'm over 62, had thought I wasn't entitled as I don't get any means tested benefits. Thanks 

Spoonie_Turtle

Torry_Quine said:

Due to this thread I've applied to Scottish Power as I'm over 62, had thought I wasn't entitled as I don't get any means tested benefits. Thanks 

Do you claim one of the other benefits on their list?

HandyMandy

Torry_Quine said:

Due to this thread I've applied to Scottish Power as I'm over 62, had thought I wasn't entitled as I don't get any means tested benefits. Thanks 

Good luck, hope you’re more successful than my uncle. Would appreciate if you can ket us know how you get on 😁. 

HandyMandy

sheramber said:

HandyMandy said:

Thanks for your responses, I checked Octopus and they have similar criteria to EDF, I’ve coped below from their website:

Which option best describes your situation?

Select the most relevant option...

1. I receive the Savings Element of Pension Credit only. 

2. I receive Council Tax Reduction (excludes the 25% single person’s discount). 

3. I receive Income SupportI receive Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA). 

4. I receive Income-related Employment & Support Allowance (ESA). 

5. I receive Housing Benefit. 

6. I receive Universal Credit, and have an earned income of between zero and £1,694 in at least one of the twelve preceding assessment periods. 

7. I have a total annual household income of £20,328 or less (before tax and National Insurance. 

Had my uncle been with Octopus I would have chosen option 7 above (household income of less than £20,328). The next page shows the following:

Which option best describes your situation?

Select the most relevant option...

1. 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 BenefitI receive Personal Independence Payments (PIP). 

2. I receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA), any disability premium (all rates) or disabled child element of Universal CreditI receive Adult Disability Payment (ADP). 

3. I hold a Maternity Exemption Certificate (MATEX). 

4. I am aged 62 and over (OR in receipt of any pensioner premium). 

5. I have a dependent child under 5 (who normally resides with the applicant). 

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

7. I receive the limited capability for work element of Universal Credit. 

8. I have a medically dependent illness (disability or mobility issue). 

Choosing option 4 would have meant he qualified for WHD. 

It seems that EDF and Octopus (and maybe some others) apply different eligibility criteria from Scottish Power. It feels unreasonable that access to the Warm Home Discount depends on which energy provider you’re with. In my uncle’s case it isn’t critical, as he can manage his heating and bills, but other pensioners on a similar income may not be so fortunate.

They can  change to a supplier where they would qualify for the discount.

For £150, it’s not worth the stress for him (or me - especially if anything went wrong 😱). His health isn’t great and we’re already dealing with an Attendance Allowance application and arranging carers so he can continue living independently. He’s fortunate to be financially comfortable, but it’s been a real learning curve for me.