How can ECO help pensioners with boiler replacement?
Officials announced a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)-terminal project. Already the following weekend my daughter and her friends went there to hold up STOP-posters in front of TV cameras, and local people joined. Pension funds on slippery slope. As well as providing boiler replacement for pensioners, we’re also committed to providing qualifying pensioners with aftercare services completely free of charge following the installation of their new boiler. British Gas pulls free insulation offer 'Difficult news for employees' British Gas says part of the reason it's cutting the offer is that the vast majority of the homes it could install free insulation in have already had the work completed. It also says it expects to fully hit its ECO targets despite the job cuts.
Free Boilers for Pensioners – Reducing Household Energy Bills At the same time, the Government has set targets to help low income households to reduce their fuel consumption and heating bills by installing more energy efficient central heating boilers and electric storage heaters.
If you’re a pensioner who owns their home (private tenants are not currently able to apply for a boiler grant) in receipt of Pension Guarantee Credit, or other eligible benefits, you may be able to apply for a free boiler grant towards the cost of replacing your gas boiler.
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme is a government initiative backed by the big six energy suppliers with the aim of reducing carbon emissions and tackling fuel poverty. The scheme was launched in April 2013 and obliges the big-six energy suppliers to promote measures which help low-income households reduce their heating costs.
Under the scheme, qualifying households will receive a grant towards the cost of replacing an old and inefficient boiler. The ECO scheme is available to homeowners in England, Wales and Scotland.
How much will pensioners get?
The scheme provides a contribution towards the cost of installing a new energy efficient boiler. In some cases, the full cost of replacement is covered. But most energy companies will ask for a contribution towards installation costs. Any contribution you make should not be more than 20% of the full replacement cost.
Free standing installation. This is a price worth paying considering you’ll save around £300 a year off your heating bill – thanks to the energy performance of modern A-rated boilers.
Which pensioners qualify?
The scheme is available to all pensioners in receipt of Pension Guarantee Credit or Working Tax Credit. Pensioners who do not receive either of these benefits may still qualify if they receive one of the other qualifying benefits.
To qualify for an ECO grant, you must also meet the following criteria:
Own your own home or live in social housing
In receipt of a qualifying benefit e.g. Pension Guarantee Credit, or
Are 60+ years old and in receipt of Working Tax Credit
The boiler you wish to replace must be more than 10-years old
Free Gas Installation For Pensioners Online
Read our ‘Government Boiler Help Article’ for a full-list of qualifying benefits.
Is the ECO boiler grant 100% free?
The grant is free which means there’s nothing to pay back, what’s more since the initial scheme launched back in 2013 it’s helped over 1.8 million homes to install energy saving technologies – resulting in reduced energy bills for many, by hundreds of pounds per year.
Conclusion
By taking advantage of the scheme, pensioners can update their old boiler to a more efficient one. This should reduce ongoing heating costs, saving hundreds of pounds each year.
You can find out more about the ECO scheme and check if you qualify on the Ofgem (opens in a new window) website.
Useful links
For more helpful information please follow the links below, they include official government consultation outcomes (Q&As) and the history of the ECO scheme.
Energy Company Obligation Consultation Outcome (GOV UK) (open in a new window) Ofgem ECO microsite (open in a new window)
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The UK government's ECO scheme could provide you with a boiler grant
As part of the UK government's Energy Company Obligation (ECO), if you receive a qualifying benefit and your boiler is 10+ years old, you may be entitled to grant funding towards a brand new A-rated boiler.
The free boiler grants are funded by UK energy companies and don't need to be repaid. See if you qualify now.
Free boiler scheme - what is it?
The free boiler scheme was launched in January 2013 with an aim to reduce the UK’s energy consumption and provide grants to low-income households in order to help them improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
The scheme is part of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) and the Electricity and Gas Order, which was passed in parliament in 2012 and will run until 2022. It primarily funded by the largest UK utility companies.
ECO is made up of one primary obligation: the Home Heating Cost Reduction Obligation (HHCRO) and funding for the free boiler scheme is part of this.
Home Heating Cost Reduction Obligation (HHCRO)
The Home Heat Cost Reduction Obligation provides free boiler and insulation grants to private homeowners who receive certain means-tested benefits. It aims to reduce fuel poverty amongst low-income households by ensuring that heat is generated as efficiently as possible and is prevented from escaping from the home.
Eligible benefits
Eligibility for a free boiler grant will depend on several factors. Firstly, a permanent resident within the property needs to be in receipt of one of the following benefits, such as:
Child tax credit
Child benefit (with a qualifying household income)
Working tax credit
Disability Living Allowance
Pension credit
Job seekers allowance
Universal credit
Employment and support allowance
Additional qualifying criteria
Install free shaders minecraft 1.14. There are additional criteria for each of the above; the most important of which is that the total household income amongst all working-age residents must not exceed the requirement maximum amount. This will vary according to the type of benefits being received and the number of adults and children living within the property. This figure was decided by the government as being low enough to qualify for funding assistance.
Secondly, the property must of a size to generate sufficient savings from installing such measures. Unfortunately, the resulting carbon savings generated from upgrading a boiler within a flat are not deemed significant enough to justify the funding required to cover such work.
Lastly, there must be an existing low-efficiency boiler within the property. All boilers are rated by their energy efficiency. Most modern units will work at around 90% efficiency (only losing 10% output when converting fuel to heat). A boiler installed around 10 years ago will most likely be around 65-80% efficient. So, by upgrading this old boiler to a new one, the carbon savings will be significant enough to warrant the cost and therefore will qualify under the free boiler scheme.
Free Gas For Pensioners
Funding for the free boiler scheme has been reduced in recent years, as part of an agreement that utility companies reduce their customer’s fuel bills. This has made it harder to find installers with funding available, particularly as most of the big 6 utility companies have already met their targets. We expect this trend to continue, however, it is still possible to receive a free boiler grant and we can help you find approved installers in your area to arrange a survey.
If you do not qualify for a grant you can compare quotes for a new boiler in order to get the best possible price.
Who is Find Energy Savings?
Free Gas Installation For Pensioners 2020
Owned by Leadstoyou Limited, we work with installers across the UK to help them find eligible homeowners who qualify for the boiler grant scheme. These installers pay us a small fee to receive your application, helping to fast-track the process for everyone. The information submitted on this web site is only used for this purpose and never sent to any other third party. More..
Who qualifies for a boiler grant?
You receive a qualifying benefit
Existing boiler is over 10 years old
It is not a condensing boiler
Home is heated by mains gas
You are a home owner
What happens next?
We help to fast-track the process by matching you with an installer in your area who can process your application further. If you qualify, you will be referred to an approved local installer. They will contact you to arrange a free survey to check if your existing boiler is eligible. A date will then be arranged for your A-rated replacement boiler to be installed.
People who have received a free boiler with Find Energy Savings