THOUSANDS of households missing out on a government-back energy bill discount can still get the cash through another scheme.
The Warm Home Discount scheme is paid to millions of low-income households each winter to help with increased heating costs.
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However, thousands of people fall through the cracks and don’t receive the discount even though they’re eligible on paper.
This can be down to different factors, including how they pay their rent or where their home is.
Nearly 160,000 UK families live in park homes and don’t have a direct relationship with an energy supplier.
It means that, even if they qualify for the Warm Home Discount, they won’t receive a payment from the Department for Energy because it has no means of paying them.
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But Charis Grants operates a similar scheme on behalf of most energy suppliers to help distribute the discount to these households.
Anyone living in a park home in England, Wales or Scotland and receiving pension credit will qualify for the £150 payment.
But others can still qualify if they receive one of several other benefits.
To secure the cash you’ll need to apply for the grant on the Charis Grants website.
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You’ll need to provide details of the benefits you receive, plus income details for you and other household members.
Park home and static caravan residents who have been successfully awarded the £150 payment through the Charis scheme will also be sent a ‘Heat the Home’ bundle containing products designed to increase the energy efficiency of their homes.
The package includes simple to install radiator reflector foil, insulation film and draught excluder for improved warmth retention.
Appliances are available for those who ticked the appliance box on their original application.
Jonathan Hunt, charity director of client services, said: “E.On Next and Ovo Energy have generously added to the Park Homes Warm Home Discount scheme as a way of ensuring that eligible park home households across the UK avoid falling through any further cost of living cracks when it comes to heating their homes.
“If you have already been awarded the £150 Warm Home Discount you will automatically receive the Heat the Home bundle. Park home residents who have not yet made an application are encouraged to check their eligibility and take advantage of these extra benefits.”
Who qualifies for the payment?
You may qualify for the Park Homes Warm Home Discount if you (or a household member) receive one of the following:
- Pension credit
- Income-related employment and support allowance
- Income-based job seekers’ allowance
- Income support
- Universal Credit
- Child tax credit by virtue of an award based on an annual income not exceeding £18,723
- Working tax credit by virtue of an award based on an annual income not exceeding £18,723
- Housing benefit (or Housing element if receiving Universal Credit)
You’ll also qualify if you aren’t receiving benefits but the total gross annual income across everyone living in your household is below £18,723.
How do I apply and how will I be paid?
To secure the cash you’ll need to apply for the grant on the Charis Grants website.
You’ll need to provide details of the benefits you receive, plus income details for you and other household members.
You must have a valid email address to receive the decision outcome and any requests for information.
Charis will also need your bank account details, as shown on your bank card, bank passbook or account statement, to make an award directly to your bank.
If your application is successful, a payment of £150 will be made directly into your bank or building society account by March 31, 2024.
What other energy bill help can I get this winter?
Thousands of households are due up to £25 in free cash after cold weather payments were triggered in hundreds of postcodes.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) hands out the free cash to help support hard-up Brits during cold spells.
And eligible households get the cash paid directly into their bank accounts within 14 days.
The cold weather payments are made in locations where residents experience continuous below-zero weather.
Households can get £25 during each seven-day period of low temperatures from now until March 31.
Cold weather payments were triggered in almost 300 postcodes in November – meaning that thousands of households are owed cash.
Plus, millions are due up to £600 in winter fuel payments.
You should have received yours by January 26, 2024 at the latest.
If you haven’t got your payment by then, you need to call the office that pays your benefits.
Those details can be found in the letters they have sent you.
And if you’re found to be ineligible for the winter fuel payment but want to challenge that decision, there’s a government form for that, too.
Millions on benefits will also receive the final £299 cost of living payment in February.
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We’ve previously explained who’s eligible and whether you’ll need to act to get it.
Additional support is also offered by councils in the UK through the Household Support Fund.
