Grants and schemes

  

There are various energy efficiency schemes and grants that are available. These schemes vary from region to region and are run by a variety of organisations. The main scheme is a home energy efficiency scheme known as Warm Front in England, Warm Deal in Scotland, the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme in Wales and the Warm Homes Scheme in Northern Ireland. The scheme is government funded and provides energy advice and grants to cover the costs of home insulation and to improve energy efficiency for certain groups of people including those on low incomes. The scheme covers both owner-occupiers and people renting accommodation. You may also be able to apply to the local authority for a grant, loan or other type of help for home improvements.

  

You can contact your local Energy Efficiency Advice Centre for information on energy savings schemes and grants. You can find your local centre on freefone 0800 512 012 or the Energy Savings Trust website at www.est.co.uk . Many independent fuel companies and local authorities operate grants and schemes and also provide energy efficiency advice. Grants can be given for work connected to any energy saving measure, including, in some circumstances, the provision of gas or electric central heating. Grants can also be given for low-energy light bulbs. In some circumstances and in areas of high risk of crime, security improvements like door and window locks may also be provided.

 

Who can get a grant under a home energy efficiency scheme

 

In England - the Warm Front Scheme

 

In England you are eligible for a Warm Front grant if you:

have children under 16 and are getting Child Benefit or with a maternity certificate, and getting one of more of the following - Income Support, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, or Pension Credit

 are getting one or more of the following - Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (which includes Constant Attendance Allowance), or War Disablement Pension (which must include the mobility or Constant Attendance Allowance) are getting one or more of the following - Income Support, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit, when they include a disability premium are 60 or over, and getting Income Support, Council Tax Benefit, Housing Benefit, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, or Pension Credit. 

If you are getting Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit, contact your local Energy Efficiency Centre to find out whether you qualify for a Warm Front grant.

 

Wales - Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

 

In Wales, you are eligible for a Home Energy Efficiency Scheme grant if you are in a household with children under 16 and getting child benefit and one or more of the following - income support, housing benefit, council tax benefit or income-based jobseeker's allowance.

 

The following people in Wales may be able to get an enhanced grant, called Home Energy Efficiency Scheme Plus:-in a household getting one or more of the following - attendance allowance, disability living allowance, industrial injuries disablement benefit (which includes constant attendance allowance), war disablement pension (which must include the mobility or constant attendance allowance), Pension Credit in a household getting one or more of the following - income support, housing benefit or council tax benefit, when they include a disability premium in a lone parent household with a child under 16 and getting child benefit and one or more of the following - income support, housing benefit, council tax benefit, income-based jobseeker's allowance in a lone parent household with a child under 16 in receipt of child benefit where the child receives disability living allowance

 

Homeowners in Wales aged 60 or over are entitled to a grant called a partial grant in order to carry out home energy efficiency work.

 

In Scotland – the Warm Deal scheme

 

In Scotland, there are a range of grants available to improve the heat efficiency of your home. The grants are provided under the Warm Deal Scheme and you can find out more about them at www.eaga.co.uk/scotland/warm_deal.html .

  

In Northern Ireland – the Warm Homes Grant

 

In Northern Ireland, you are eligible to receive a new Warm Homes grant if you or your spouse are:-householders with a child under 16 and getting one or more of these benefits: Income Support, Housing Benefit, Rate Rebate or income based Jobseeker’s Allowance householders with a child under 16 in receipt of a maternity certificate and one or more of these benefits: Housing Benefit, Rate Rebate, Income Support or income based Job Seeker’s Allowance householders getting one or more of these benefits, when they include a disability premium: Income Support, Housing Benefit or Rate Rebate householders getting one or more of these benefits: Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit which must include constant care allowance or a war disablement pension with either Constant Attendance Allowance or mobility supplement.

 

An enhanced grant, called Warm Front Plus, is available to householders aged 60 or over, who receive one or more of the following - Housing Benefit, Income Support, Rate Rebate or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance.

 

How much is a home energy efficiency grant

 

The maximum individual grant that can be made under these home energy efficiency schemes is £1500 in England and Wales, £500 in Scotland, and £750 in Northern Ireland.

 

The maximum enhanced grant for people aged 60 or over is £2500 in England, and £2700 in Wales and Northern Ireland.

 

The maximum 'materials only' grant in England is £250, and in Scotland £160. The maximum partial grant in Wales is £375.

 

How to apply for a grant

 

Details about the home energy efficiency scheme, and how to apply are available by calling your local Energy Efficiency Advice Centre on freephone 0800 512 012. For other grants, contact your local authority or energy supplier and find out if they have information. You can also phone the Energy Saving Trust on 0845 727 7200 to ask about grants and schemes in your area. In Northern Ireland, visit the EAGA website at www.eaga.co.uk  .

 

The Scottish Central Heating programme

 

In Scotland, you may be able to benefit from free central heating and home insulation under the Scottish Executive Central Heating Programme. This covers owner occupiers, tenants of private landlords and public sector tenants.

 

If you are a tenant of a local authority or housing association, you can get free central heating if your house has no central heating. Insulation may also be installed. Priority is given to those tenants who are aged 75 or over, live alone or are disabled or are long term sick. The landlord will identify which properties qualify and will contact any tenant who is able to benefit.

 

From April 2004, local authority tenants who have a partially centrally heated house may have the system replaced or upgraded to whole house central heating. Priority will be given to householders or their partners who are disabled or over 75.

 

In Scotland, to find out more about the central heating programme, see The Scottish Central heating programme.

  

Who can help

 

You can get comprehensive advice from any local Energy Efficiency Advice Centre. The energy centres will be able to help assess your needs and offer advice on all aspects of energy efficiency. You can get details of your local Energy Efficiency Advice Centre (EEAC) by telephoning Freephone 0800 512 012 or looking at www.saveenergy.org.uk EEACs offer free and independent advice. 

 

The Energy Saving Trust (EST) can advise you on grants or schemes available in your area. Grant eligibility is dependent on a number of factors - your age, local authority and energy supplier. For more information, see under heading Grants and schemes. You can contact the EST energy efficiency helpline on 0845 727 7200.

 

Ofgem's (The Office of Gas and Electricity markets) website has useful information about how to save money on your energy bills at: Ofgem.

  

Age Concern produce a number of useful factsheets including 'Help with heating' and can offer telephone advice for older people. In England, you can contact them on freephone number 0800 00 99 66 or by visiting their website at www.ageconcern.org.uk.  In Scotland, contact them on 0131 467 7118 or at www.ageconcernscotland.org.uk

  

The Home Heat Helpline offers advice on energy efficiency and fuel debts to low income consumers. The Helpline's advisers can help identify where free energy efficiency measures might be available and can also ensure that vulnerable customers are not at risk of fuel supply disconnection. You can contact the Home Heat Helpline on 0800 33 66 99.

  

All suppliers of gas and electricity have to provide information on energy saving measures as a condition of trading. For more information, contact your fuel supplier and ask them about the energy advice offered.