Written by Kate Hallewell
The Neath Port Talbot Council is making it easier for residents to take advantage of Energy Company Obligation (ECO) grants. The rules will publish any upgrades or installations on your property, since they may be relevant!
1. What is Local Authority Flexible Energy or LA Flex?
The Local Authority Flexible Energy or LA Flex program offers an affordable way to keep your home warm this winter. Apply now before it’s too late and start saving on bills!
The Neath Port Talbot Council just released a new set of rules that may interest you. These grants and incentives will help with insulation or heating upgrades on your property, so make sure to check out this program!
2. What grants are available?
The types of grants available to residents living in the Neath Port Talbot 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
3. Who is eligible for grants?
Are you renting, owning your home, or living in a housing association? The Government is providing help with insulating homes. 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.
Neath Port Talbot Council
If you DON'T claim benefits, the criteria for identifying households in fuel poverty in Neath Port Talbot Council are as follows:
Criteria for Neath Port Talbot Council eligible households
Low income
- have an income of £36,000 or less AND less than £25,000 in savings of
any kin - Households living in properties with an EPC rating of E, F or G will determine that the household is likely to have high energy costs
Vulnerable to Cold
- Aged over 60 and particularly those aged over 75
- Children under 5 and pregnant mothers
- People with respiratory conditions (in particular, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma)
- People with cardiovascular conditions
- People with mental health conditions including dementia
- People with disabilities / limited mobility
- People with a limiting long-term illness
- People with suppressed immune systems (e.g. from cancer treatment/organ transplantation / or HIV)
| CF33 |
| CF44 |
| SA1 |
| SA10 |
| SA11 |
| SA12 |
| SA13 |
| SA18 |
| SA6 |
| SA7 |
| SA8 |
| SA9 |
| Margam |
| Blaengwrach |
| Coedffranc West |
| Coedffranc Central |
| Coedffranc North |
| Dyffryn |
| Neath North |
| Bryn-coch South |
| Bryn-coch North |
| Cadoxton |
| Aberdulais |
| Crynant |
| Tonna |
| Seven Sisters |
| Onllwyn |
| Neath East |
| Neath South |
| Cimla |
| Briton Ferry East |
| Briton Ferry West |
| Baglan |
| Pelenna |
| Resolven |
| Glynneath |
| Glyncorrwg |
| Sandfields East |
| Aberavon |
| Port Talbot |
| Sandfields West |
| Bryn and Cwmavon |
| Tai-bach |
| Pontardawe |
| Gwynfi |
| Cymmer |
| Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen |
| Lower Brynamman |
| Allt-wen |
| Rhos |
| Trebanos |
| Godre'r graig |
| Ystalyfera |
| Cwmllynfell |
5. How much could you get?
Grants can be a great way to help with home heating costs. Grants are typically based on the size and age of your house, but there may also be other factors that determine eligibility like insulation thicknesses in walls or how well winter does at installing heaters on site. The calculations take these things into consideration when providing services through contractors who install grants!
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
The installer will quote the installation costs in advance and explain them to you before proceeding. The free no-obligation survey determines what funding is available, so there’s no need to worry about paying anything upfront. The customer should receive an estimate for their home improvement project that can be altered at any time if necessary, humanizing this process by providing options on pricing or types wanted with regards not only materials but also features like colour schemes as well.
Apply for a grant
Check eligibility for grants
Fill in the short form to see if you are eligible for Government grants.