Britons can get an extra £150 to help with energy bills (Image: Getty)
With applications for this year’s Warm Home Discount now open, an elderly and mobility expert shared his concerns about the challenges faced by the older generations in maintaining adequate heating in the winter months as they suspect even more households will be eligible for this year’s discount.
This comes after data collected by Senior Stairlifts found that 37 percent of homeowners expect their financial situation to worsen over the next 12 months and 54 percent are looking to cut back on spending towards priority bills to be able to afford their heating bills.
Kieran Harris, founder of Senior Stairlifts has explained that the findings suggest a correlation between the elderly population and an increased reliance on heating support.
He said: “This data contributes to the ongoing conversation around the welfare of the elderly during winter.
“Vulnerable people are struggling more than ever and it’s a problem that I’m seeing too often. I’ve witnessed firsthand the financial challenges they face in today’s cost of living crisis which is affecting their quality of life.
As the cost of living crisis continues, any extra cash could be vital for families on low incomes (Image: EXPRESS)
“Many elderly people I visit often express their concern about how they’re going to afford to heat their homes now that the temperature has dropped.
“The sheer number of the elderly who received last year’s discount shows there’s a real issue here that needs addressing and I believe the number of those receiving the discount this year will increase.”
The government-funded Wam Home Discount Scheme allowed eligible individuals to receive a one-off discount of £150 towards their electricity bill for winter 2023 to 2024.
The Warm Home Discount is automatically applied to bills between October 2023 and March 2024, or those with a pre-payment meter can receive the support in the form of a top-up voucher.
warm home discount scheme explained (Image: Getty)
Those who qualify in England and Wales will receive a letter from October onward explaining the discount and instructions on what they need to do next, while customers in Scotland need to apply directly with their energy supplier as soon as possible.
To qualify, customers must have an account with one of 17 participating electricity suppliers and claim either:
- The Guarantee Credit portion of Pension Credit
or, if they have high energy costs:
- A different ‘qualifying benefit’ such as the Savings Credit portion of Pension Credit, Universal Credit or Housing Benefit.
For the full list of qualifying benefits in England, Wales and Scotland, click here.
Critics have claimed that 800,000 of the UK’s poorest households missed out on the £150 payment last year because of changes to who was eligible for the bill discount.
The new eligibility criteria are supposed to target people who are most in need. But fuel poverty charity National Energy Action (NEA) said not only has the rebate risen by just £10 in the past decade – while average energy bills have jumped £800 since 2021 – it has also become harder to qualify for it.
National Energy Action said about 300,000 households missed out on Warm Home Discount last year after being asked to provide an energy performance certificate, which can cost more than £100.
An additional 500,000 receiving Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) who were previously paid the discount were no longer eligible last year.
The changes to the scheme were controversial when they were introduced last year, as many who had been able to claim the discount in the past found they were no longer eligible. This year, many took to X (Twitter) to complain again.
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@TheBettieKind said: “We are a 1 income plus PIP household and don’t get any extra help. We budget to the penny just to get by each month” and @adamfare1996 said: “The fact that people who get PIP don’t qualify for the Warm Home Discount is outright disgusting.”
@DrAnnieHickox said: “Bracing ourselves for hearing painful stories about how so many people are struggling to stay warm (and even to stay alive) this winter. It’s already started.”
NEA policy director Peter Smith said: “Too many people just give up hope of being helped. It’s so frustrating for them and for our advisers. After all, the people who are missing out are paying for the policy through their energy bills but still aren’t benefiting.”
Out of the 1,687,670 elderly recipients of Warm Home Discount payouts in 2022, the Government website states over two-thirds of them rely on pension credit.
In response to the financial hardships faced by pensioners, the government recently announced an 8.5 percent increase in state pension.
Whilst this policy adjustment is a significant step towards addressing the economic aspect of heating struggles among the elderly, the data suggests that further measures might be necessary to completely address the issue.
Kieran added: “The government’s recent announcement of an increase in state pension is a welcomed relief for our elderly population but as the numbers suggest, it’s important to recognise that these individuals, who have spent a lifetime contributing towards their pension, still find themselves struggling to meet the basic need for warmth during the coldest months of the year.
