Written by Kate Hallewell
The East Ayrshire Council is taking a proactive approach to helping its residents save money and live more comfortably by providing grants for heating or insulation. Residents who are interested in installing either of these items on their property can get up-to-date information about how they can apply for ECO grant funding, which will help with the costs while making it easier to stay warm during this time of year.
1. What is Local Authority Flexible Energy or LA Flex?
The LA Flex program is the perfect solution for people who find themselves at risk of fuel poverty but do not receive benefits. This campaign has been made with these individuals and their needs in mind, making it easier and more affordable than ever before! You’ll be able to get your home heated up economically without sacrificing comfort – so take advantage of this opportunity today!
The government is obligated to power suppliers to provide funding for energy efficiency measures like cavity wall insulation or loft insulation. Residents living within the boundaries set by East Ayrshire Council can apply for a valuable grant opportunity they have called Energy Company Obligation (ECO) which enables them to access this money if they qualify according to rules published on their site.
2. What grants are available?
The types of grants available to residents living in the East Ayrshire Council area include:
- Boiler grants
- Cavity wall insulation grants
- External wall insulation grants
- First time central heating grants
- Internal wall insulation grants
- Loft Insulation
- Roof Insulation
- Smart thermostat grants
- Underfloor insulation grants
Boiler grants are expected to be removed from the grant scheme in the next phase so you should apply for this grant as soon as possible.
3. Who is eligible for grants?
Homeowners, renters and people who are living in housing associations will benefit. The easiest way to see if you are eligible is to use our eligibility checker here.
Eligibility
There are 6 ways to qualify for a grant:
1. Receiving a qualifying benefit
2. Receiving Child Benefit and meeting income rules
3. Income-based eligibility (for households that earn less than £31,000 per year)
4. Vulnerable eligibility
5. Health-related eligibility
6. Bespoke targeting
This route to eligibility applies where a member of the household receives or has received a 'qualifying benefit'. If the benefit isn't a current claim (for example for households where they have gone back to work after the pandemic) providing the benefit has been claimed at some point within the last 12 months, the household will still be eligible for a grant.
Qualifying benefits include:
- Child Tax Credit
- Employment & Support Allowance (Income Based) - Income Support
- Housing Benefit
- Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based)
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- Pension Credit Savings Credit
- Universal Credit
- Working Tax Credit
Note if you receive any of the following benefits you could qualify later in the scheme (or through the ECO4 Flex routes). We advise anyone claiming the following benefits to register for updates so you are the first to know when these benefits are accepted.
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer's Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- War Pensions Mobility Supplement
If you receive Child Benefit you could be eligible for the scheme but unlike the qualifying benefits above they would need to meet an additional income criteria.
The Child Benefit income criteria depends on the number of children in the household and also whether the claim is a single or joint claim.
The income limits are as follows:
Single parents
1 Child – £19,900
2 Children – £24,800
3 Children – £29,600
4+ Children – £34,500
Parents in a couple
1 Child – £27,500
2 Children – £32,300
3 Children – £37,200
4+ Children – £42,000
(figures updated to Ofgem’s Administration Consultation released on 13 June 2022)
If you are eligible through the Child Benefit route you should apply as soon as you can. The Government's Green Homes Grant excluded Child Benefit recipients so potentially this eligibility route could be removed later in the the scheme.
To be eligible through the income-based route your annual household income will need to be under £31,000. You will need to provide evidence such as bank statements and income information to confirm eligibility.
This is an ECO4 Flex route so it requires the applicants council to have published a Statement of Intent and to issue eligibility declarations.
Vulnerable people can access grants if they meet two of the following criteria (1 & 3 can’t be used together):
1. Lives in a Lower Super Output Area
2. Receives Council Tax Rebate (excluding for single person discounts)
3. Householder has a disability, mental health condition, is over 65, school children or under 16 and pregnant women.
4. Receives free school meals due to a low income
5. Supported by a Council scheme described in a Statement of Intent
6. Households referred by a Citizen’s advice as struggling to pay gas and electricity bills
7. Households in energy debt
A medical practitioner will need to complete a referral form to confirm eligibility.
This is an ECO4 Flex route so it requires the applicants council to have published a Statement of Intent and to issue eligibility declarations.
People with health conditions that are made worse by living in a cold home qualify.
These include:
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Immunosuppressed
- Mobility issues
- Respiratory conditions
A medical practitioner will need to complete a referral form to confirm eligibility.
This is an ECO4 Flex route so it requires the applicants council to have published a Statement of Intent and to issue eligibility declarations.
Installers can target specific groups of people living in fuel poverty. Installers will approach you if your property is eligible through this route.
East Ayrshire Council
If you DON'T claim benefits, the criteria for identifying households in fuel poverty in East Ayrshire Council are as follows:
Criteria for East Ayrshire Council eligible households
1. Fuel Poverty
- Have an income of £22,000 AND less than £28,000 in savings
- Score 4 and above in the questions here
- Not previously received ECO funding
2. Low-Income and Vulnerability to the Cold
- Have an income of £22,000 AND less than £28,000 in savings
- Resident have a limiting long term or terminal illness
- The resident has a mental illness
- Residents have a respiratory condition
- Residents have a disability
- Residents who are 60 years or over
- Residents who are dependent children of 18 years or younger
| HA0 |
| NW10 |
| TW8 |
| UB1 |
| UB18 |
| UB2 |
| UB5 |
| UB6 |
| UB7 |
| W10 |
| W11 |
| W12 |
| W13 |
| W2 |
| W3 |
| W4 |
| W5 |
| W7 |
| North Greenford |
| Perivale |
| Hanger Hill |
| East Acton |
| Northfield |
| Southall Broadway |
| Dormers Wells |
| Lady Margaret |
| Greenford Broadway |
| Norwood Green |
| Southall Green |
| Elthorne |
| Northolt Mandeville |
| Greenford Green |
| Northolt West End |
| Cleveland |
| Walpole |
| Ealing Broadway |
| South Acton |
| Acton Central |
| Southfield |
| Ealing Common |
| Hobbayne |
Eligibility does not guarantee funding. For full details see the full Statement of Intent.
5. How much could you get?
When it comes to heating, your property situation can make a difference in what grants you are eligible for. The Ofgem rules place an emphasis on existing or previous heating which will determine how much money is allotted to installers and give them more funding value. Where you live could also affect whether there are any grants available nearby as they depend largely on the type of installation services providers that exist near each area.
The grants are currently available as follows (subject to survey and meeting eligibility rules):
- Boiler grants - this could give you 25% - 75% off the RRP of installing a new boiler
- Cavity wall insulation grants - up to 100% of the installation cost
- External wall insulation grants - up to 100% of the installation cost (only available where electric is the main heating source)
- First time central heating grants - 50-100% of the installation cost (propeties must not have previously had central heating)
- Internal wall insulation grants- up to 100% of the installation cost (only available where electric is the main heating source)
- Loft Insulation - up to 100% of the installation cost (usually only available where electric is the main heating source but in some areas loft insulation is available for gas properties)
- Roof Insulation - up to 100% of the installation cost (usually only available where electric is the main heating source but in some areas roof insulation is available for gas properties where it is installed alongside a new boiler)
- Smart thermostat grants - up to 100% of the cost but only available through some installers
- Underfloor insulation grants - up to 100% of the installation cost but usually only installed alongside another measure like a boiler upgrade
With LA Flex, you won’t have to worry about spending more than what was originally planned for home improvement projects. Qualified contractors will install a heating insulation system and provide upfront estimates of any additional expenses that may be incurred in order for everything to go smoothly – all while adjusting your desired tone with their helpful voice!
Apply for a grant
Check eligibility for grants
Fill in the short form to see if you are eligible for Government grants.