ECO4 Flex Grants

ECO4 Flex grants if you don't claim any benefits

If you don't receive any benefits, you could still qualify for an ECO4 grant as part of your councils ECO flex scheme.

This is an initiative set up by local authorities to help households apply for a grant even if they don't claim benefits. The exact specifications will vary depending on where you are, however in general the criteria includes:


  • Having an annual household income below £31,000
  • Having a health condition made worse by living in a cold home or vulnerable to the effects of living in a cold home
  • Your property has an EPC rating of either E, F or G

 

Grants are available for qualifying homeowners , including:

Do I qualify for an ECO Flex grant?

ECO flex criteria varies between each local authority, however the general guidance includes:


  • Having an annual household income below £31,000
  • Having a health condition made worse by living in a cold home or vulnerable to the effects of living in a cold home
  • Your property has an EPC rating of either E, F or G

To find out the criteria for your local council, you will need to find their 'Statement of Intent'.  This will usually be found under their 'Help to heat' or 'Warm homes' Scheme. Most local councils aren't expected to be allowing applications until late 2022 and early 2023.

What classes as 'vulnerable'?

Some general criteria that can be used as a guide to see if you're likely to qualify, identified that householders vulnerable to the effects of living in a cold home included, but is not limited to:


  • People with cardiovascular conditions
  • People with respiratory conditions (in particular, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and childhood asthma)
  • People with mental health conditions
  • People with disabilities
  • Older people (65 and older)
  • Households with young children (from new-born to school age)
  • Pregnant women
  • A child living at receiving free school meals due to low-income
  • A household referred to the LA for support by their energy supplier or Citizen's Advice, because they have been identified as struggling to pay their electricity and gas bills.


The above categories were derived from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Guidance (Excess winter deaths and illness and the health risks associated with cold homes (nice.org.uk).


Please remember that specific criteria for each local council is different, so you will need to make sure you have checked this before applying.

Apply online

Apply online

What is the ECO4 Scheme?

The Energy Company Obligation scheme was set up by the government in collaboration with the major energy providers in the UK (including British Gas, EON, NPower and EDF energy) with the aims of reducing carbon emissions, improving energy efficiency and tackling the growing issue of fuel poverty.

Sourced from the Gov.UK website, the ECO4 scheme means that you may get help with the cost of:



How the ECO4 scheme is to tackling fuel poverty within the UK.

According to endfuelpoverty.org.uk, there is an estimated 7 million households across the UK in fuel poverty as of October 1st, 2022. With concern that this could rise to an estimated 10.7 million from spring 2023 as the current support measures for households runs out.


The ECO4 scheme is only available for those in receipt of certain benefits or for those households on the lowest income and are therefore the most vulnerable.


By installing new energy efficient heating methods, such as a new boiler or first time central heating into a home can drastically improve its energy efficiency rating and also reduce the cost of energy bills. Pairing these measures with home insulation, including loft insulation and cavity wall insulation can also maximise energy efficiency for properties, further improving energy costs for these households.

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