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Grants and benefits to help you pay your energy bills

(41 Posts)
MamaCaz Mon 25-Oct-21 18:46:58

EON More restricted Broader Group eligibility for pensioners.

This seemed the most relevant, but check the link below to see if anything else might apply to you:

Are not recieving the Guarantee element of Pension Credit on 4th July 2021and either Born on or before 31 March 1956 and in receipt of Council Tax Reduction for low income. OR ^ In receipt of the Savings Element of Pension Credit only^

utilityswitchboard.com/gas-electricity/providers/eon/warm-home-discount/

MamaCaz Mon 25-Oct-21 18:37:47

EDF A very broad range of criteria for the Broader Group, including:
Gross taxable annual household income* of less than £16,190 and ... aged 62 or over

www.edfenergy.com/for-home/help-support/warm-home-discount

MamaCaz Mon 25-Oct-21 17:40:05

Warm Home Discount Broader Group:

If you are with Scottish Power, are over 65 AND your total gross household income is less than £16,190, you might be eligible and should put in an application asap for this year's Warm Home Discount.

The criteria are similar to those of British Gas, mentioned upthread.

I will try to check out other suppliers, but if those criteria above apply to you (and you are not already getting this discount as part of the core group), you have nothing to lose by checking your own company's criteria right now.

If any of you reading this who are pensioners who are not eligible to be part of the core group, but have successfully claimed the Warm Home Discount as part of the Broader Group, please consider sharing the name of your energy company on here, as it could be very useful to others.

PippaZ Mon 25-Oct-21 17:08:23

Maybe that was their Christmas wish for you *Chestnut" grin. They sound as if they have got back to being more contactable than they have been.

Chestnut Mon 25-Oct-21 17:02:10

Just phoned them. All sorted. Goodness knows why they think I'm suddenly living with someone.

Chestnut Mon 25-Oct-21 16:55:40

Nothing has changed. I'll have to query it, should definitely be £200 as I live alone.

PippaZ Mon 25-Oct-21 16:44:55

Just a thought - have you got a partner who has started getting the State Pension since last year? I think that would mean you get half and they get the other half.

PippaZ Mon 25-Oct-21 16:39:40

It shouldn't have changed if your circumstances haven't changed Chestnut.

Have a look a this and see if it's right. www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/how-much-youll-get

Chestnut Mon 25-Oct-21 16:37:48

Just noticed that they think I live with someone else who qualifies.....which I don't. I'll have to query it.

Chestnut Mon 25-Oct-21 16:33:06

Nothing has changed. I just thought it had gone down because the government can't afford the normal amount!

midgey Mon 25-Oct-21 16:19:56

Chestnut is that because your partner now qualifies? My letter told me £200 but I am widowed.

Chestnut Mon 25-Oct-21 16:17:29

Just had my winter fuel letter today and it's down to £100. Normally £200 every year. I really think this should not be paid to people on higher incomes who don't need it. I know some people give it back but lots probably don't. And if you give it back it won't go to some elderly person living on the breadline.

midgey Mon 25-Oct-21 16:00:14

If any one in the house hold has a stoma or similar (such as a permanent catheter) or a condition that requires extra need for water you are able to apply for Water Sure. You do have to have a water meter but your bills will be capped. I think it may apply to families on certain benefits as well.

MamaCaz Mon 25-Oct-21 15:47:45

Just to clarify- I was talking about Warm Home Discount

MamaCaz Mon 25-Oct-21 15:46:49

Based on my experience of applying for this on my Mum's behalf, I know that British Gas are good, allowing pensioners to claim as part of the Broader Group.

I have found that the Broader Group criteria of many companies focus on younger people in receipt of certain types of benefit, effectively ruling out pensioners who are not in receipt of the Guaranteed Credit element of Pension Credit.

It would be useful to know which other companies make this discount available to non core-group pensioners, as it it is something to take into consideration when comparing deals (when there are such things again!) and deciding which company to change to.

PippaZ Mon 25-Oct-21 15:21:35

I hope this helps sort out the different payment you may or should be able to get.

The Winter Fuel Payment. This is a benefit that goes to all who have reached state pension age.

Cold Weather Payments. These are one-off payments that are triggered by exceptionally cold weather for a set period. This is a means-tested benefit. Those on Pension Guarantee Credit should receive these automatically as do those on some other benefits.

The Warm Home Discount scheme is run by and funded by energy companies. They each have a core group which will include those on Pension Guarantee Credit so should mean that group get it automatically. Each company also has a "broader" group - not always the same. If your income is just above the Pension Guarantee level it would be worth applying.