With thousands of homes across the UK looking to get their hands on a new replacement boiler, if you’re a pensioner and you’re in receipt of Pension Guarantee Credit, or other certain benefits, you may meet the criteria required to access the boiler grant scheme.

With a new gas boiler typically costing around £2,300, thanks to the Government’s boiler grant scheme, if your existing boiler is broken or inefficient and meets the qualifying criteria you could receive a grant towards a brand new one. In fact in some cases the new boiler installation is completely free, whilst in others you may be asked to make a financial contribution. The grant itself is always free, meaning you will never be expected to pay back a penny of it.

What is the Energy Company Obligation?

The Government’s Energy Company Obligation, known as ECO, is funded by the country’s largest utility companies, including British Gas and the other ‘Big Six’. Currently the ECO scheme offers boiler grants for boilers with the fuel types of gas, oil, lpg and even for electric storage heaters. It is important to note that at the moment funding for gas is very limited under the scheme, so whilst we will try our best to pass your application on to a qualified installer it may take longer than usual. The other fuel types are unaffected by this.

How can pensioners qualify?

More and more pensioners are struggling to meet the demands of escalating energy bills, and with many on limited incomes a new boiler is an expense many simply cannot afford.

Pensioners in receipt of Pension Guarantee Credit and those who receive Working Tax Credit may qualify for a boiler grant to help them become more energy efficient with a view to bringing down their heating bills. But even if you don’t receive Pension Guarantee Credit you could still qualify for a grant if you get Working Tax Credit or other qualifying benefits.

As long as your boiler is old, inefficient or broken and you meet the following criteria you should be able to apply for a free boiler grant:

• You own your own home, or
• The accommodation you live in is rented privately, or
• You live in social housing (unfortunately we can’t currently process these applications, so please seek further advice from the Energy Saving Advice Service)

and

• You’re in receipt of Pension Guarantee Credit, or
• Are 60 years old or more and receive Working Tax Credit

The post How can pensioners benefit from a Boiler Grant? appeared first on Free Boiler Grants.

Originally introduced in January 2013 the scheme provided qualifying households with grants to install brand new energy efficient boilers. Take up of the scheme has been very popular, and in some cases homeowners are asked to pay part of the cost towards their new boiler – the majority will be made up of a grant that you don’t have to pay back.

Thanks to the Energy Company Obligation, energy providers (like the Big Six) have a duty to help customers on low incomes living in notoriously hard to heat homes by providing them with new boilers and insulation. By making homes more energy efficient households will be able to lower their heating bills and live more comfortably in a home that no longer leaks energy and money.

At Boiler Grants we continue to help people benefit from the scheme. But you don’t just have to take our word for it. We teamed up with reviews website Trustpilot, so now you can see what our customers think about our boiler grants website. Here’s a few of the reviews we’ve received:

“I just had finished filling in the on line form got out of the chair when the phone rang a very polite lady asked me a few simple questions. In less than 4 mins told me I was eligible for a grant this was excellent service.” – Thomas

“Just waiting for it all to happen. The first call and the setting up was faultless, quick and all questions answered.” – Robert

“I telephoned this morning to see if I qualified for a new boiler and within hours I was told I did. Quicky, friendly and first class service. Thank you so much.” – Michael

“I am 75yrs old and I am not so well practised at dealing with this sort of thing. I was very comfortable talking to the young lady who responded to my email. She was clear, polite, friendly and informative — who could ask for anything more ?!! Thank you.” – Barbara

“I was led through the qualification criteria quickly and clearly. Once told I that I was entitled to the grant the process was explained to me step by step. I was made aware of what documents I needed and the likely timescales involved. The whole process was very efficient and clearly explained.” – Farida

To be eligible for a boiler grant you must be a homeowner or if you’re a tenant, rent privately. You’ll also need to receive one of these benefits (and possibly an additional criteria):

• Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Income Support
• Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance
• Income-Related Employment Support Allowance
• Universal Credit

Read more about the eligibility criteria for the boiler grants scheme here.

The post Can I still get a boiler replacement grant? appeared first on Free Boiler Grants.

The boiler grant scheme, which sometimes goes by the name of ECO (that’s short for Energy Company Obligation), was introduced in 2013 to help millions of fuel poor households (those who spend more than 10% of their annual income on fuel) who struggle to heat their homes with old, inefficient and faulty central heating boilers.

If you qualify for the scheme you’ll receive a grant towards a brand new boiler which should result in cheaper bills – by up to £320 a year if you’re replacing a G-rated boiler.

Since February 2013 people up and down the country have been visiting Boiler Grants to see if they qualify for a free boiler grant. And with the prospect of another harsh cold winter just around the corner more and more people will be looking to take advantage of the scheme.

Although touted as a scheme to replace boilers for free when it was originally launched in January 2013, due to funding cuts more people are being asked to make a contribution towards their new boiler. The boiler grant will meet some of the cost and the householder will need to make up the shortfall.

Here’s a few more things you should know about the boiler grant scheme:

1. Only homeowners and private tenants can apply. Tenants renting privately will need to get permission from their landlord first. If you have a verbal tenancy agreement or live with parents Ofgem’s unwritten tenancy agreement can be used to demonstrate your status.
2. Boiler grants will be available until the Energy Company Obligation closes its doors, which will be in September 2018. Energy Providers have agreed to make a funding pot of £1.3 billion available for each year the scheme is operational.
3. The scheme isn’t open to everyone unfortunately. You have to be on certain benefits to apply and the criteria is very strict. For example pensioners need to be in receipt of Pension Guarantee Credit; a state pension alone will not be enough.

The post 10 things you should know about Boiler Grants appeared first on Free Boiler Grants.