Written by Kate Hallewell
This is a great time of year to start planning for winter. We’ve published all the rules and applications, so check them out here today. When you need insulation or heating in your home Sandwell Council grants may be able to help cover these expenses through their flexible energy policy with ECO funds that can provide assistance without having any upfront cost burden placed upon taxpayers – find more information here now!
1. What are Sandwell Council Grants? ECO4 LA Flex Explained
2. What Sandwell Council grants are available?
The types of grants available to residents living in the Sandwell 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. Eligibility for Sandwell Council Grants: Do You Qualify?
Grants are available to help homeowners, renters and tenants with low income or who receive benefits. You’ll need a bit of qualification but it would be worth your time! 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.
Sandwell Council
If you DON'T claim benefits, the criteria for identifying households in fuel poverty in Sandwell Council are as follows:
Fuel Poverty
- Property EPC rating of D, E, F or G
- A total Gross Household Income not exceeding £30,000 per annum.
Vulnerable to Cold
- Chronic respiratory condition, or
- Cardiovascular condition, or
- Musculoskeletal illness, or
- Mental health condition
- over 70 years of age, or
- pregnant women, or
- have dependent children under 5 years of age
| B16 |
| B17 |
| B18 |
| B21 |
| B42 |
| B43 |
| B62 |
| B63 |
| B64 |
| B65 |
| B66 |
| B67 |
| B68 |
| B69 |
| B70 |
| B71 |
| DY4 |
| WS1 |
| WS10 |
| WS5 |
| WV14 |
| Soho and Victoria |
| Abbey |
| St Pauls |
| West Bromwich Central |
| Newton |
| Great Barr with Yew Tree |
| Charlemont with Grove Vale |
| Cradley Heath and Old Hill |
| Rowley |
| Blackheath |
| Langley |
| Tividale |
| Smethwick |
| Bristnall |
| Old Warley |
| Oldbury |
| Greets Green and Lyng |
| Great Bridge |
| Wednesbury South |
| Hateley Heath |
| Princes End |
| Tipton Green |
| Friar Park |
| Wednesbury North |
Eligibility for Sandwell Council Grants does not guarantee funding. For full details see the full Statement of Intent.
4. How much could you get?
Grants for home heating are available to people who need help with their energy bills. The amount of the grant depends on a range of factors, including what type and how many bedrooms your house has as well as wall types such as a cavity or solid walls – it also helps if there’s an existing system in place that needs replacing because then we can figure out just how much assistance will meet your needs best!
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
You can find free grants for the installation of your home’s heating and insulation. Grants are paid directly to installers, who have no repayment requirements! Where contributions towards installation cost may be required there will be an explanation before proceeding so that all parties know what is expected from them ahead of time too – do not hesitate to take advantage today because these offers won’t last long!
Sandwell Council Grants flexible energy (LA Flex) rules are detailed in this Statement of Intent
Apply for a grant
Check eligibility for grants
Fill in the short form to see if you are eligible for Government grants.