Our Warmer Homes work shows that some properties often require more expensive interventions compared to other households. Many households are affected by fuel poverty, meaning the costs to heat their homes can be high. These residents can be left with a residual income below the official poverty line or are unable to afford to pay to heat their homes, and this can lead to health related illnesses due to insufficient heating.
Our Warmer Homes Scheme, in partnership with Beat the Cold (BTC), can help by providing help to fund energy efficiency measures. There are three important elements to determine whether a household is fuel poor:
- Household income
- Household energy requirements
- Fuel prices
Beat The Cold are an independent charity who work towards reducing incidences of cold related illnesses and fuel poverty, as well as energy efficiency through home improvements, for low income and vulnerable residents.
BTC have a number of advice schemes to improve homes such as: Low cost insulation, solar PV, heat pumps and many more. BTC support residents to look for the best way to pay for fuel that suits the household and helps with referral to appropriate schemes.
There are several schemes which South Staffordshire Council offers to residents which help towards tackling the issue of fuel poverty as well as energy efficient homes:
- Warm Home Discount - participating energy suppliers help low-income and vulnerable households meet their energy costs.
- Winter Fuel Payment - annual payment of up to £300 for pensioner households.
- Cold Weather Payment - payment during periods of severely cold weather to pensioners who receive pension credit or people on income-related benefits who meet certain criteria.
For more information you can contact BTC on the following numbers:
- Phone: 01782 914915
- Freephone: 0800 389 2258
South Staffordshire Council's ECO: Help to Heat Flexible Eligibility Statement of Intent.
This statement sets out South Staffordshire Council's flexible eligibility criteria for the ECO: Help to Heat programme. It aims to help households living in fuel poverty, living on a low income and vulnerable to the effects of a cold home to help deliver the Council's Warmer Homes scheme ambitions.