It's coming up to that time of year again when you can apply for the warm home discount.
For those who haven't had it before there's a bit of information below. I'm with the Hydro electric (SSE) and get it automatically but I still like to put my application in anyway just to make sure. They are taking applications now but it seems for some of other companies that it will be the 15th of October, however you should still be able to register your interest, providing you meet the qualifying criteria. This payment has helped us out for the last 6 years and is a lifesaver at that time of year
Here's how to see if you qualify and how to apply
You could get £140 off your electricity bill under the Warm Home Discount Scheme.
The money is not paid to you - it’s a one-off discount on your electricity bill, between September and March.
You may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead if your supplier provides you with both gas and electricity. Contact your supplier to find out.
The Warm Home Discount Scheme for winter 2017 to 2018 closed on 31 March 2018. The 2018 to 2019 scheme will start on 15 October 2018.
The discount will not affect your Cold Weather Payment or Winter Fuel Payment.
Eligibility
There are 2 ways to qualify for the Warm Home Discount Scheme:
you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit - known as the ‘core group’
you’re on a low income and meet your energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme - known as the ‘broader group’
How you apply for the Warm Home Discount Scheme depends on how you qualify for the discount.
Pre-pay or pay-as-you-go meters
You can still qualify for the discount if you use a pre-pay or pay-as-you-go electricity meter.
Your electricity supplier can tell you how you’ll get the discount if you’re eligible, for example a voucher you can use to top up your meter
Utilita opened applications in August and have now closed, so it depends on who you are with, nice to get £140 next Spring, although we could do with it in the winter.
We get ours in the winter, we've had ours at Xmas last few years I've just went back and checked, the 15th november my last one credited. That's really strange you don't get yours till spring
Hi, just wondering is any of you could help. They say low income but I can’t see any mention of how much that is?
Hi, if its with British Gas or Sainsburys, they have quoted £16,000 or less as low income. Hope this helps.
I'm not sure what the cut off is but if your struggling the best thing (I think) to do would be to put an application in and let them decide. If your on certain benefits, different suppliers etc it will be different for each criteria x
Yayyyyy that's fantastic it's such a lifesaver, if your circumstances don't change you should be entitled to it every year
I'm sorry I really don't know how it works over there, I wouldn't want to guess best thing to do is check with your supplier
To be honest iits not a freebie.its meant to help you with winter bill and not have to choose between heating and eating.
Maybe if they gave the disabled enough to live on we would not need to claim this.More so if you will never be able to work again just governments way of not giving us enough to live on xc
Maybe we wouldn't have to claim it if they gave us enough but the sad fact is at the moment they don't It's too dangerous for me too work and we struggle on a daily basis so to not have to make that choice between topping up the meter or eating is a godsend. If it helps even just one person who wasn't previously aware (which it has) then It can only be a good thing. It's not something the dwp or the energy suppliers like to advertise unfortunately
Your welcome. Your right a lot of people don't know and it's not something that neither the dwp or the energy suppliers like to advertise unfortunately. it helps a few people out
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