ECO4, also known as the Energy Company Obligation, is a government energy efficiency scheme in the United Kingdom designed to help low-income and vulnerable households reduce their energy costs and improve the energy efficiency of their homes. The Affordable Warmth element of the ECO4 scheme specifically targets households that are most in need of support, including those with young children, the elderly, and those with disabilities or health issues that make them particularly vulnerable to the negative impacts of living in a cold home.
To be eligible for the ECO4 Affordable Warmth scheme, households must meet certain criteria. These include:
- Being in receipt of certain means-tested benefits: To be eligible for the Affordable Warmth element of ECO4, households must be in receipt of one of the following benefits:
- Pension Credit (Guaranteed Credit)
- Income Support
- Jobseeker’s Allowance (Income-based)
- Employment and Support Allowance (Income-related)
- Universal Credit
- Having a child under the age of 16, or a child under the age of 20 who is in full-time education: Households with children under the age of 16, or children under the age of 20 who are in full-time education, may be eligible for the Affordable Warmth scheme. This is because children are particularly vulnerable to the negative impacts of living in a cold home, and the scheme aims to provide support to households with young children to help them keep their homes warm and healthy.
- Having a member of the household who is disabled or has a long-term illness: Households with a member who is disabled or has a long-term illness may be eligible for the Affordable Warmth scheme. This is because people with disabilities or long-term health issues are often more vulnerable to the negative impacts of living in a cold home, and the scheme aims to provide support to help these households stay warm and healthy.
- Living in a property that is hard to heat: To be eligible for the Affordable Warmth scheme, households must also live in a property that is hard to heat. This includes properties with solid walls, properties with no loft insulation, and properties with no cavity walls. These types of properties are often more difficult and expensive to heat, and the scheme aims to provide support to households living in these properties to help them improve the energy efficiency of their homes and reduce their energy costs.
- Having a high level of energy debt: Households with a high level of energy debt may also be eligible for the Affordable Warmth scheme. This is because the scheme aims to provide support to households that are struggling to afford their energy bills, and helping them to reduce their energy costs and improve the energy efficiency of their homes can help to reduce their energy debt.
If you think that you may be eligible for the ECO4 Affordable Warmth scheme, please call us at (020) 3638 4030. It is important to note that the eligibility criteria for the Affordable Warmth scheme may change over time, so it is always best to check the latest information to ensure that you are eligible for the scheme.
