Tandridge District Council Flexible Energy Rules for Energy Company Obligation grants

Tandridge District Council Flexible Energy (LA Flex)

Written by Kate Hallewell

Unfortunately Tandridge District Council has not published a statement of intent for ECO4 which means that vulnerable residents in the area cannot yet access grants.

1. What is Local Authority Flexible Energy or LA Flex?

The Government’s Energy Company Obligation offers grants to help those who live in cold homes. The LA Flex program run through local authorities provides funding for insulation and heating and widens the eligibility criteria.
 
Residents of Tandridge District Council can apply for grants through the benefits or child benefit routes but vulnerable residents with health conditions or a low-income can’t currently access funding. This is because Tandridge council aren’t accepting flex applications.

2. What grants are available?

The types of grants available to residents living in the Tandridge District Council area include:

3. Who is eligible for grants?

There are a range of ways to qualify for funding for homeowners, tenants and even housing association tenants. The easiest way to see if you are eligible is to use our eligibility checker here.

eco scheme eligibility rules for pensioners

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.

CR2 
CR3 
CR6 
CR8 
RH1 
RH10
RH19
RH6 
RH7 
RH8 
RH9 
TN16
TN8 

 

Portley
Whyteleafe
Harestone
Chaldon
Westway
Queens Park
Valley
Woldingham
Oxted North and Tandridge
Warlingham West
Warlingham East and Chelsham and Farleigh
Tatsfield and Titsey
Bletchingley and Nutfield
Godstone
Burstow, Horne and Outwood
Felbridge
Dormansland and Felcourt
Lingfield and Crowhurst
Limpsfield
Oxted South

 

5. How much could you get?

The grant you could receive will depend on a range of factors. One major factor is your current heating system and insulation in your home. The grants are very generous and often 100% free for eligible properties.

Tandridge District Council 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.