Grants and Schemes News: page 11
- September 2024
Autumn Budget increases funding for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
The Autumn Budget has increased funding for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, with the remainder of £1.8bn after fuel poverty support allocated to the grant scheme.
Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund collection withdrawn
The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund collection was withdrawn on 23 September 2024 and replaced by the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund, closing a grant route that had allocated more than £1 billion to social homes in England.
Warm Homes: Local Grant guidance first published
The government first published guidance for local authorities on the Warm Homes: Local Grant on 23 September 2024, setting out how £500 million will fund energy upgrades to low-income homes in England.
ECO4, ECO Flex and GBIS closed pending Warm Homes Plan announcement
Act on Energy has reported that ECO4, ECO Flex and the Great British Insulation Scheme are closed, with all three waiting on the next UK Government announcement of the Warm Homes Plan.
Ofgem opens call for evidence on ECO4 and GBIS evidencing routes
Ofgem has opened a call for input on how eligibility is evidenced under ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme, covering data-matching and benefit letter routes.
Winter Fuel Payment qualifying period closes amid Pension Credit processing delays
The Winter Fuel Payment qualifying period closes on 16 September 2024, while the Pension Credit helpline warns that new claims may take nine weeks to process.
Household Support Fund extension announced
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has announced an extra £500 million to extend the Household Support Fund in England to 31 March 2025, with £421 million going to local authorities.
Individuals and Families Fund reopens with grants up to £1,700
The British Gas Energy Trust has reopened its Individuals and Families Fund, offering energy debt grants of up to £1,700 to British Gas and non-British Gas customers with credit or pre-payment meter arrears.
Winter Fuel Payment eligibility criteria set to change
Winter Fuel Payment eligibility is being narrowed so that only pensioners receiving certain means-tested benefits qualify, with fuel poverty charity National Energy Action warning that many low-income and vulnerable pensioners in Wales will lose the £200 to £300 annual payment.
Analysis estimates NHS cost of winter fuel payment cut
Analysis from the End Fuel Poverty Coalition estimates that pensioners pushed into cold damp homes by the winter fuel payment cut could cost the NHS more than £169m a year.
Chancellor refuses to reverse Winter Fuel Payments cut
Rachel Reeves has refused to reverse cuts to Winter Fuel Payments, as the Energy Secretary announced plans to force landlords to meet stricter energy efficiency standards for rented homes.
Home Energy Scotland launches Community Analytics report pilot
Home Energy Scotland has introduced a Community Analytics report and opened a 2024-25 pilot offering the tool to up to 20 community groups across Scotland.
PAWHP to replace Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland on a means-tested basis for winter 2024
The Scottish Government has confirmed that Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will replace the Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland for winter 2024, mirroring the UK Government's restricted eligibility and paying £200 or £300 to between 110,000 and 130,000 pensioners.
Wave 3 scheme launch defined as publication of final guidance documents
Wave 3 of the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund counts its launch from the September 2024 publication of final guidance, the point from which co-funding may be claimed.
Winter Fuel Payment backlash enters fourth week
The campaign against the removal of Winter Fuel Payments from millions of pensioners has entered a fourth week, with the Prime Minister defending the decision as petitions pass 700,000 signatures.
- August 2024
Citizens Advice calls for reform of the Warm Home Discount
Citizens Advice has published analysis of continuing energy debt and called on the government to reform the Warm Home Discount before winter, as the price cap is forecast to rise.
Qualifying date for Warm Home Discount winter 2024/25 passes
The qualifying date for the Warm Home Discount in winter 2024/25 was 11 August 2024, meaning eligibility for the rebate was assessed on that day.
Analysis finds pensioners face highest energy bills on record this winter
End Fuel Poverty Coalition analysis for the Telegraph finds pensioners who previously received the maximum Winter Fuel Payment will face the highest real-terms energy bills on record in winter 2024/25.
- July 2024
Halifax launches Green Living Reward cashback offer
Halifax has opened a Green Living Reward cashback offer to its mortgage customers, paying up to £2,000 for air source heat pumps and up to £1,000 for other efficiency improvements.
Charities write to Chancellor urging reconsideration of Winter Fuel Payment removal
More than 50 organisations have written to Chancellor Rachel Reeves asking the Government to reconsider restricting the Winter Fuel Payment to pensioners on certain means-tested benefits.
Chancellor announces Winter Fuel Payment eligibility restricted to benefit recipients
The Chancellor restricted Winter Fuel Payment eligibility from winter 2024-25 to people receiving Pension Credit and certain other benefits, cutting the Block-Grant Adjustment by an estimated £150 million.
Government announces winter fuel payments will be means-tested
Means testing of the Winter Fuel Payment, announced on 29 July 2024, drove a 145% rise in pension credit applications, with nearly half of processed claims rejected.
Energy UK publishes policy proposals for affordable bills this winter
Energy UK has proposed funding energy efficiency schemes from general taxation, shifting policy costs onto gas bills and doubling the Warm Home Discount to cut household bills this winter.
SGN publishes article on fuel poverty support partnerships
SGN has set out how its Safe and Warm Community Scheme with the Centre for Sustainable Energy and its Safe and Warm programme with Citizens Advice Scotland are reaching households in fuel poverty.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant increase credited with rising heat pump take-up
The Climate Change Committee credits higher Boiler Upgrade Scheme funding and grants with a significant rise in heat pump take-up, in its 2024 progress report to Parliament.
Big Energy Credit Claim Back campaign set to end
The Big Energy Credit Claim Back campaign, which saw more than 20,000 customers reclaim unused credit from suppliers, ends on 1 July as households begin saving again for winter.
Government announces means-testing of Winter Fuel Payments
The Government has announced that Winter Fuel Payments will be means-tested from this winter, restricted to pensioner families on Pension Credit or an equivalent benefit, saving £1.3 billion rising to £1.5 billion.
Government planned significant cut to Winter Fuel Payment eligibility
The government planned a significant cut to Winter Fuel Payment eligibility in July 2024, then reversed course so all pensioners keep the payment, with higher incomes clawed back.
UK Government restricted Winter Fuel Payment entitlement
The UK Government restricted Winter Fuel Payment entitlement in July 2024 to households receiving Pension Credit and other means-tested benefits, cutting the Block-Grant Adjustment by £147 million in 2024-25.
- June 2024
Solar PV and battery storage removed from HES Grant and Loan scheme eligibility
From 6 June 2024 the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme stopped accepting new referrals for solar PV and battery storage, ending support even when these were installed alongside a heat pump.