ECO3 Eligibility Criteria for UK’s Affordable Warmth Scheme
Energy Company Obligation (ECO) 3 is out in full force and the government’s more determined than ever to eradicate fuel poverty through its Affordable Warmth Scheme.
So focused in fact, that the Carbon Emissions Reductions Obligation (CERO) was dropped from ECO3 entirely, allocating 100% of ECO3’s funding to the Affordable Warmth Scheme. To put that into context, the Affordable Warmth Scheme previously took up 70% of ECO2t’s budget, which roughly amounted to £450m per year in free boiler schemes and home insulation solutions
The number of properties that can be upgraded with heating and insulation measures will inevitably rise in parallel to this massive influx of funding. To increase its delivery rates, the Affordable Warmth Scheme’s eligibility criteria has been expanded. Child benefit and Disability benefits have been added to the current eligibility criteria as seen below.
ECO3 Qualifying Benefits:
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance
- Pension Guarantee Credit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- Personal Independence Payment
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Tax Credits (Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits)
- Universal Credit
- War Pensions Mobility Supplement
- Child Benefit *
Social Housing properties with EPC ratings of E, F or G can qualify for ECO funding regardless of the resident’s benefits eligibility. The measures available however, are limited to insulation and first time central heating systems.
*Additional conditions are required to qualify for ECO grants.