The Energy Assistance Package
WHAT IS THE ENERGY ASSISTANCE PACKAGE?
- A four-stage Package of help, as recommended by the Fuel Poverty Forum.
- The package will help increase incomes, reduce fuel bills and improve the energy efficiency of homes.
- Stage 1 provides an initial energy audit to anyone who phones the Energy Savings Advice Centre network, and identifies those at risk of fuel poverty who continue to Stage 2.
- Stage 2 provides help with improving incomes and reducing energy bills.
- Stage 3 provides a package of standard insulation measures (cavity wall and loft insulation), as part of the energy companies' obligation under the Carbon Emission Reduction Target.
- Stage 4 provides more enhanced energy efficiency measures (such as heating systems including renewable systems, and insulation measures for hard to insulate homes for those who are fuel poor).
WHO WILL BENEFIT?
- Stages 1 to 3 are widely available and Stage 4, as recommended by the Forum, will be focussed on the homes with very poor energy efficiency and lived in by those households most vulnerable to fuel poverty.
- Stage 1 - anyone can phone for energy efficiency advice from the ESSAC network
- Stage 2 - all those vulnerable to fuel poverty will be offered further help with improving incomes and reducing energy bills
- Stage 3 - all those vulnerable to fuel poverty will be provided standard insulation measures (cavity and loft insulation, wherever the home can take these). These will be provided free to all those on income-related benefits or aged over 70, and at a subsidised rate to others.
- Stage 4 - available to the following groups in private sector homes:
- All pensioner households who have never had central heating installed
- Pensioners in energy inefficient homes who are in receipt of the Guarantee Element of Pension Credit or are aged 75 or over
- Low income families in energy inefficient homes with a child under 16 and are in receipt of Child Tax Credit (more than the family element).
- For the first time those living permanently in mobile homes will be eligible for help
- In receipt of the highest rate of the care component or the higher rate of the mobility component of disability living allowance Or terminally ill and in receipt of a DS1500 certificate And whose home has a poor energy rating AND who are in receipt of a qualifying benefit (and any other qualifying criteria that may apply).
- From 30th November 2011 carers who look after family or friends and in receipt of the Carers’ Allowance.
- Low income defined as on income support, maximum child tax credit or guarantee element of pension credit.
- Energy inefficient homes defined as those where an energy audit identifies that the dwelling has a performance rating of E, F or G.
Please contact the Home Energy Scotland advice line on 0800 512 012 or alternatively the West Lothian Council Energy Advice Team who are located at the Advice Shop in Bathgate on 01506 283000.
Updated 11/11/2011
