To be annoyed by Warm Home Discount criteria

[SmedSmoo]

I'm not eligible for the Warm Home Discount because of the age of the property I live in. Despite the property being all electric which is much more expensive to run.

I'm in fuel poverty - monthly bills £200 and in a lot of debt. I live in a small two bedroom flat and live frugally on UC. No heating ever, washing machine only used once monthly. There's literally nothing else I can cut back on. I’m unable to work currently due to disability.

I just don't think the age of the property should have any bearing on eligibility.

"The Government has prioritised low income households living in properties estimated to have the highest heating costs"

I'm low income and have extortionate energy costs so I'm not actually sure who they are prioritising…

They're actually ok if used overnight on the lower rate.

Put your electric bill up so posters can take a look at it.

Sounds like a dehumidifier might be good in your place, dry air is far more comfortable and feels warmer in winter, cooler in summer.

If you are waiting for a PIP assessment this situation must be fairly new.

I agree with you OP - the WHD criteria seems much harsher now. I used to get it every year when I was on benefits and I got disability benefits, and it was invaluable to me. Now I've just checked my eligibility online and I wouldn't get it because of the new criteria about the property. Seems very harsh for families with young dcs or disabled people, who need more heating yet won't be eligible because of this new rule which probably won't reflect their energy bills. There is no transparency over what kind of properties will meet their criteria - it is probably going to be a tiny percentage of those who used to be eligible, especially as with the rules on minimum EPCs for landlords.

I don't get means-tested benefits any more so I'm no longer eligible anyway. I would reach out to all other kinds of help that you may be eligible for (eg food banks to cut food bills so you can pay for energy costs) and get advice from your local CAB.g

@SmedSmoo

In common with - for example - the winter fuel payments "means testing" is now just a box ticking exercise. In that case just a simple test of income without any corresponding look at expenses. As others say you should get things checked. Do you always submit meter readings or are you simply reliant on the supplier keeping the direct debit correct?

No idea how people pay so little. We are in a tiny 1980s 4 bed and pay £320 for dual fuel. Six people so washing machine and dryer on all the time, and heating in the evening.

Six people. That's your answer.

You need to look at other ways to manage your fuel costs rather than demanding more handouts. Plenty of people keep their bills below this. Warm clothes , a heated throw etc

Yes.

But the OP states they don't have any heating.

So why the (relatively) large electric use ?

What is the kWh per day ?

I don't know.
I wonder if they're carrying a debt or using estimated readings.

Did you even read the OP

I am in a 2 bed flat, all electric also. Electric heating is expensive - my bill last month was £200 but I have heating on at 20 degrees for 5 hours a day. When I don't use any heating my bills are more like £60 a month. £200 for no heating is a lot.

Do you give monthly meter reads?

I work for an energy company. Have you applied for any grants? Most energy companies offer one off grants. If you are relying on UC and have debt with the energy company you will likely be eligible.

We pay £90 a month 2 bedroom flat, washing at least 4 times a week, gas hob, electic oven, both shower at least once a day and sometimes bath. The last month heating been on at least 20 most of day i think we might be dedit for this months bill but we will make it up in summer . Your bill sounds far to high.

Wow. Read the op before being a judgy twat no doubt posting from a lovely warm home

Depends. My house is all electric and costs about £100 a month to run (new build, 2 bed). It's got a heat pump though, that's what makes the difference.

Yes, without wanting to criticise anybody, there does seem to be a very common perception - also the basis of government and council policies - that everybody is either extremely disabled or pretty much perfectly healthy, with absolutely no in between.

There are plenty of us who, luckily for us, are not nearly as disabled as many people are - and thus we don't get benefits or other concessions because of it - but we still struggle a great deal with daily life, in many ways, and have to accept living a limited (and often disproportionately expensive) life.

I'm a similar situation - high electricity bills but don't qualify because of the size of my flat

Octopus do have a fund for you to apply to

I am in an all electric property too. A £200 monthly bill wouldn't surprise me at all if you had your heating on (in fact £200 is pretty good going in the winter) but as you have no heating on something isn't right. I'd check the tariff you're on (ie make sure you're not on one for dual heating, tracker etc). Then I'd check that this is actual rather than estimated readings, and you're not paying back an old debt. Then I'd check you're not got issues with one appliance wracking up a huge amount of energy. If none of those apply, I'd contact Octopus because you could have an issue with your meter.

I have storage heaters but was never shown how to use them! I don't use them as I know they're super expensive

Thank you. Yes I have an immersion tank

Thank you for all helpful advice. I’ve applied for some help.

I'm not paying back any debt. Some months I didn't send readings so they were estimated but I've since sent readings in and received the bill which puts my monthly usage at £200.

Standing charges are 66.63p/day.

If you have storage heaters at some point the flat will have been on a dual rate system, so one day rate and one night rate. Have you definitely switched away from that? Because if you only use electric during the day you need a single rate tariff, not dual rate.

What is your Octopus tariff called? It might be something like "Octopus Flexible".

I'm on Octopus Flexible. I've contacted them to ask for a single rate tariff, wish I'd done that sooner

Just wanted to say that pip is no longer qualifying criteria by itself anyway and even some suppliers base eligibility on the EPC rating of your property.
I am in a similar situation and no longer qualify as I receive contribution based ESA( will not migrate to UC) and enhanced PIP on both components.
It's now designed to pay as few customers as possible imo
Do check your particular suppliers eligibility.
Can you tell I'm pissed off?!!

There's something definitely not right with your bill!
I'm in a similar property - electric only. I have heating on for an hour a day & washing machine once a week & am still under £100.

There must be something using electric heavily that you aren't aware of.

You are better off speaking to the energy company & finding out what's going on!

The only thing I can think of is the immersion tank but I get so confused with how they work. I've turned the bloody think off