UK Residents - Government Grant £130 ... - Scleroderma & Ray...

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UK Residents - Government Grant £130 a year for heating

23 Replies

Hi everyone, not sure how many of you are aware you can claim £130 for your electric (they only pay to the electric account as not everyone has gas). This is for people who require additional heating etc...It is only paid once a year during January to March. Applicants have to apply before March for the annual payment.

All you need do is contact your electrical supplier and ask if they have an application pack for the £130 grant. I'm with SWALEC and their Customer Services have a division called CareLine. This money is paid by the government directly into your electric account.

So your electric bill goes down and you have more money to spend on your gas/oil heating etc...

23 Replies
Yorky profile image
Yorky

Hello, I have just spoken to Atlantic Energy. I am told that applications for 2013 closed on Jan 4, will reopen for 2014 in April. But you do need to be in receipt of Pension Credit or a Disability Allowance to qualify, it is not based on health conditions or so I am told. Would be interested to hear what other energy suppliers say.

in reply toYorky

Hi Yorky, no not necessarily DLA to qualify, did you ask for your application form?

Yorky profile image
Yorky in reply to

No I didn't ask for the form as she said I was too late for 2013, but could get a form in April for 2014. Perhaps this is something the RSA will look into?

Have you completed a form yet?

in reply toYorky

Yes I filled it in and also advised RSA last year to advertise it in their Newsletter. Swalec - it's paid in March so they said fill in the form and get it back by March. It did state on the form, each case is looked at individually. I sent mine back in December.

TJme profile image
TJme in reply toYorky

Hi Yorky , its based on whether you are in receipt of certain benefits , if you are over 65 , registered disabled or on a low income and receiving help with housing or council tax , any of the above entitle you to claim .

TJme profile image
TJme

I'm with EDF and get more than the £130 you mention , last year it was £230 and will be the same for this year too , you can only apply if you are in receipt of DHSS benefits ( including housing or council tax ) EDF are very good as they send out the letters in august and they do everything for you if you supply them with your NI no .Not sure how other energy companies work ,but it's well worth looking into .

TIDDLYF profile image
TIDDLYF

I am going to phone N Power now - will let you know how i get on.

Carolanne profile image
Carolanne

This is a means tested benefit and not everyone is entitled. Although I suffer from Raynards and Scleroderma /lung Fibrosis I have been told I am not entitled.

TIDDLYF profile image
TIDDLYF

Well i just phoned N Power, they have said that child tax credit, housing/council tax benefit is all i needed. They are sending me the form - i have to supply proof of these benefits and i will get £130 paid to my account at the end of March. Thank you for drawing this to my and everyone else's attention.

TIDDLYF profile image
TIDDLYF

Think i will put the heating back on

tinaparkii profile image
tinaparkii

im with British gas for my electricity. I will ring them tomorrow as im at the patents till later on so won't be home in time today. I will let you no what they say. Thanks for this info.

lollipop profile image
lollipop

I rang british gas they said its called warm home discount and for electric only it ended end december but can register in may for 2013 onwards . criteria being disabilities and certain diseases and benefits as i am getting dla for diffuse scleroderma and raynauds i do qualify However it goes on household income and as my husband works we dont qualify.

tinaparkii profile image
tinaparkii in reply tolollipop

Yes I rang today and was told the same as U. Lines re open may. Don't understand tho why this info isn't sent to people who R entitled to it. Or posters and adverts not about.

Jessie122 profile image
Jessie122

Hello, this was on my supplier Scottish Power's help website. The criteria is clear.

Support for Vulnerable Customers

The Warm Home Discount is a programme of support aimed at households who are living in, or are at risk of, fuel poverty. The scheme was introduced by Government on 1st April 2011 and will run for 4 years. Electricity suppliers will deliver the scheme and will primarily help qualifying customers by providing rebates on electricity accounts to help when bills may be higher over the winter period.

Some customers will qualify automatically for a rebate and will receive a letter from the Department of Work and Pensions telling them this. Others can apply for the rebate if they meet certain eligibility criteria.

In the second year of the scheme commencing on 1st April 2012 the rebate will be £130. The £130 rebate is inclusive of VAT so it will show on your bill as £123.81 before VAT is applied.

Are you eligible for a Warm Home Discount rebate during 2012/13?

If you are a ScottishPower domestic customer on 21st July 2012 (the qualifying date) and either:

aged under 80 and receiving only the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit (no Savings Credit)

or aged 80 or over and are receiving the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit (even if you get Savings Credit as well)

You do not need to apply to receive the rebate as you will receive a letter from the Department of Work and Pensions during 2012 telling you that you qualify for the Warm Home Discount rebate and advising you what to do next.

Under the scheme electricity suppliers can offer the Warm Home Discount rebate to other households providing certain eligibility criteria is met.

If you are a ScottishPower domestic electricity customer and someone in your household meets the eligibility criteria that person can apply for the Warm Home Discount rebate. To qualify for the WHD you must receive at least one of the following benefits:

Income Support

Income Related Employment and Support Allowance

Income Based Jobseeker’s Allowance

OR, if the following statement applies you may also qualify

Your total gross household income is less than 16,190

In addition to the above you must also meet at least one of the following criteria:

Have a child who was under 5 on the 1st of April 2012 permanently living in the house (born on or after 1 April 2007)

Have a child entitled to free school meals

Receive Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit which includes a disability element or severe disability element, disabled child element or severely disabled child element or family element

Income Related Benefit which includes a disabled child premium, disability premium, severe disability premium or enhanced disability premium

Income Related Benefit which includes a Carers Premium

Employment Support Allowance which includes a Work Related or Activity Component or Support Component

Receive Disability Living Allowance, Incapacity Benefit or Attendance Allowance

Be aged 62 or over

Receive exemption from NHS prescription charges

If someone in your household meets the criteria above they can apply for a Warm Home Discount rebate by clicking the link below. If you want help completing the form please call 0800 027 2700 between 8am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

To verify eligibility Scottishpower or an organisation working on our behalf, may ask the Department for Work and Pensions, or other organisations for information. Alternatively the applicant may be contacted by letter by a company working on ScottishPower’s behalf and asked for documentary evidence of the benefits received. If the required evidence is not provided when requested the rebate will not be paid.

For those who qualify the rebate will be paid by 31st March 2013. Please note that the household must have a ScottishPower domestic electricity account at the point the rebate is paid.

If you change supplier between applying for the Warm Home Discount scheme and the rebate being paid you will need to apply to your new supplier for a rebate under the Warm Home Discount scheme. Eligibility criteria might differ between suppliers.

Follow this link to open the Warm Home Discount form

in reply toJessie122

Wow, impressed with your contribution. Thank you. Oh and don't rely on the DWP - as my 72 year old mother, terminal with cancer, the DWP missed her off the list, thankfully she applied herself and was awarded the £130.

alwaysfreezing profile image
alwaysfreezing

thank you cardifflady you are a star contacting my power provider tommorow many many thanks here a wee motto in bad situations theres always hope

in reply toalwaysfreezing

It is one of those well kept secrets, I also did contact RSA last year to ask them to put it in their newsletter for members.

alwaysfreezing profile image
alwaysfreezing in reply to

great work thank you

GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES and SUPPLIERS ON THE SCHEME

Part 1:

Overview

For winter 2012 to 2013, you could get a £130 discount on your electricity bill through the Warm Home Discount Scheme.

The discount won’t affect your Cold Weather Payment or Winter Fuel Payment.

Not everyone gets the discount - you have to qualify

Part 2:

What you'll get

For Winter 2012 to 2013, you could get a £130 discount on your electricity bill.

The money isn’t paid to you, it’s a one-off discount on your electricity bill, usually between October and March.

Pre-pay or pay as you go meters

People using pre-pay or pay as you go electricity meters can also qualify for the discount.

If eligible, your electricity supplier can tell you how you’ll get the discount. For example, a voucher you can use to top up your meter.

Part 3:

Eligibility

You qualify for the discount if on 21 July 2012 your supplier was part of the scheme, your name (or your partner’s) was on the bill and you were either:

80 or over and getting the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit

under 80 and only getting the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit (you won’t qualify if you also get Saving Credit)

If you don’t qualify

Some suppliers offer the discount to vulnerable people (eg, those on a low income). Each supplier has their own rules about who else can get the discount.

Energy suppliers

The following suppliers are part of the scheme:

Atlantic

British Gas

EDF Energy

E.ON

Equipower (Ebico)

Equigas (Ebico)

Manweb - see ScottishPower

M&S Energy

npower

Sainsbury’s Energy

Scottish Gas - see British Gas

Scottish Hydro

ScottishPower

Southern Electric

SSE

SWALEC

Utility Warehouse

Part 4:

How to claim

If eligible, you’ll get a letter telling you one of the following:

you don’t have to apply for the discount – you’ll get it automatically

you must apply for the discount by 13 March 2013 – the letter will tell you why and how

Letters are sent between September 2012 and January 2013. Contact the helpline if your letter doesn’t arrive by February 2013.

Warm Home Discount Scheme Helpline

0845 603 9439

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES and SUPPLIERS ON THE SCHEME

Part 1:

Overview

For winter 2012 to 2013, you could get a £130 discount on your electricity bill through the Warm Home Discount Scheme.

The discount won’t affect your Cold Weather Payment or Winter Fuel Payment.

Not everyone gets the discount - you have to qualify

Part 2:

What you'll get

For Winter 2012 to 2013, you could get a £130 discount on your electricity bill.

The money isn’t paid to you, it’s a one-off discount on your electricity bill, usually between October and March.

Pre-pay or pay as you go meters

People using pre-pay or pay as you go electricity meters can also qualify for the discount.

If eligible, your electricity supplier can tell you how you’ll get the discount. For example, a voucher you can use to top up your meter.

Part 3:

Eligibility

You qualify for the discount if on 21 July 2012 your supplier was part of the scheme, your name (or your partner’s) was on the bill and you were either:

80 or over and getting the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit

under 80 and only getting the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit (you won’t qualify if you also get Saving Credit)

If you don’t qualify

Some suppliers offer the discount to vulnerable people (eg, those on a low income). Each supplier has their own rules about who else can get the discount.

Energy suppliers

The following suppliers are part of the scheme:

Atlantic

British Gas

EDF Energy

E.ON

Equipower (Ebico)

Equigas (Ebico)

Manweb - see ScottishPower

M&S Energy

npower

Sainsbury’s Energy

Scottish Gas - see British Gas

Scottish Hydro

ScottishPower

Southern Electric

SSE

SWALEC

Utility Warehouse

Part 4:

How to claim

If eligible, you’ll get a letter telling you one of the following:

you don’t have to apply for the discount – you’ll get it automatically

you must apply for the discount by 13 March 2013 – the letter will tell you why and how

Letters are sent between September 2012 and January 2013. Contact the helpline if your letter doesn’t arrive by February 2013.

Warm Home Discount Scheme Helpline

0845 603 9439

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

alwaysfreezing profile image
alwaysfreezing

mines been sent hope everyone gets this payment they deserve it thanks everyone

Well I applied and received my Electric Bill and they applied the £130 credit to my account. Whoopeeeeee and thanks :)

ginamaria profile image
ginamaria

i applied to my energy provider EON for the warm home discount and they refused then used my details on the form to get money taken from my benefits to pay an arrears which was wrong as they were over estimating my bills and now cannot get it stopped. I still cant get it even though i am on the right level of benefits they do not care

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