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Many people in the UK don’t know what a Warm Home Energy Discount is and who can avail this discount. Due to this, they can’t enjoy discounts on their bills and face fuel poverty.
However, if you don’t want to miss this discount on your energy bills, you can take help from the following discussion on Warm Home Energy Discount.
What is a Warm Home Energy Discount?
A Warm Home Discount Scheme is a UK government backed scheme which provides a small off on the energy bills.
This scheme targets the low-income households in the Winter and provides them a discount of £150. This scheme wants all the low-income families to enjoy a comfortable and cozy home in Winter.
The eligible homes only get this discount in the months from October to March. Moreover, the discount is not given in the form of money, the energy suppliers credit this amount in electricity accounts and is applied directly on the bills.
In case, the household has paid the energy bills earlier, this discount will be provided in the form of a too-up voucher.
Who is Eligible for the Warm Home Energy Discount?
In case of the warm home energy discounts, the eligibility depends mainly on household location. It will be different in England, Scotland, and Wales. You can get detail about eligibility criteria in each of these states in the following paragraphs:
Core Group 1:
If the home falls in core group 1, the government along with energy supplier companies will assess eligibility. The households don’t need to apply for the discounts. If they are eligible, a discount will be applied directly in their electricity bills.
The eligibility criteria in this core group includes the following factors:
- At least one family member should be receiving a government credit element.
- This credit may be on pension or low income.
- The energy supplier of the households should be a participant of the warm home energy discount scheme.
- The Department of Work and Pension assesses the information of home to put in the eligible category.
If the household fulfills all the eligibility criteria, then they will inform the energy supplier of that home to apply a discount on their electricity bill.
Core Group 2:
If the household falls in core group 2, they will have a slightly different eligibility criteria, such as the following:
- First of all, the household should be a receipt of any of the government benefits, such as Universal Credit, Income Support, Income based Jobseeker Allowance, Housing benefits, and Child Tax Credit.
- The second important factor is the energy costs of property. For this purpose, they assess the size and condition of property, energy efficiency, and type and age of the heating system.
The households which are included in core group 2 have to apply themselves. When they realize that they can qualify, they should apply for the warm home energy discount.
How to Apply for the Warm Home Energy Discount?
The procedure of applying is different for core group 1 and 2. If you are in core group 1, you don’t need to apply for the discount. If the Department of Work and Pension considers your household eligible for a warm home energy discount, they will notify the energy suppliers directly.
They will assess the income status and property conditions by themselves. You only have to take action when you don’t receive a discount. You can contact the team of warm home energy discount through 0800 030 9322.
On the other hand, households in core group 2 have to apply by themselves. If they are receiving any government benefits and facing high energy costs, they can follow the steps given below:
- First, the households should confirm their eligibility by contacting the energy suppliers. They will demand income and property information for this purpose.
- If they are eligible and energy suppliers don’t provide discounts, they should again contact energy suppliers.
- If suppliers ask for an online application, they will have to submit required documents in the right format. The energy supplier and Department of Work and Pension will assess their eligibility and send a letter if they prove eligible.
What are the Benefits of the Warm Home Energy Discount?
As the warm home energy discount provides a discount of £150, this can prove helpful in several ways, such as the following:
- This discount helps to deal with fuel poverty. The people who are low income but face huge electricity bills will have a great financial assistance with this discount.
- The process of application is very simple and easy. In most cases, the households don’t even need to apply for this scheme. Only in some cases, they are asked for a warm home discount apply online.
Conclusion
The warm home energy discounts are helpful for several households. But they also have limitations. They are only eligible in the months of Winter. Moreover, the discount is only £150, you need to pay the rest of bill.
However, if you want to enjoy any fully funded grants related to your heating system, you can go for ECO4 schemes. Firstly, they install heating systems free of cost. Next, these systems are so efficient that they result in very small energy bills.
Frequently Asked Questions
Core group 1 covers all the eligible homes in the areas of England, Scotland, and Wales.
The eligible households present in England and Wales are covered in core group 2.
The maximum discount which is provided by the warm home energy discount scheme is £150.
