In this guide
2. Eligibility
You could be eligible for free home energy efficiency improvements if you meet all 3 conditions below:
- you own or privately rent your home (not local authority or housing association)
- you receive a means tested benefit or you live in a low-income household
- your home has an asset rating of 54 (EPC E) or less; or an asset rating of 68 (EPC D) or less where you or a household member have a chronic respiratory, circulatory or mental health condition
Check your EPC rating on GOV.UK or contact us we’ll help you.
Means tested benefits
The means tested benefits that qualify are:
- Child Tax Credit (income below £18,660 a year)
- Council Tax Reduction (exemption and discount do not qualify on their own)
- Housing Benefit
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Working Tax Credit (income below £18,660 a year)
Lower income households
A household with an income lower than 60% of the median average is classed as lower income for this scheme. We will not count any disability related payments or benefits as income.
Your threshold will depend on the age and number of people in your household. Examples are provided in tables 1 to 3.
Table 1: income thresholds for an adult couple with or without children
| Household type | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Couple with no children | £373 | £1,615 | £19,383 |
| Couple with one child under 14 | £447 | £1,938
| £23,259 |
| Couple with one child 14 years or over | £496 | £2,148 | £25,779 |
| Couple with two children under 14 years | £522 | £2,261 | £27,136 |
| Couple with two children 14 years or over | £619 | £2,681 | £32,176 |
Table 2: income thresholds for single adult with or without children
| Household type | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single adult householder with no children | £250 | £1,082 | £12,987 |
| One adult with one child under 14 | £324 | £1,405 | £16,863 |
| One adult with one child 14 years or over | £373 | £1,615 | £19,383 |
| One adult with two children under 14 years | £399 | £1,728 | £20,740 |
| One adult with two children 14 years or over | £496 | £2,148 | £25,779 |
Table 3: income thresholds for adults receiving the state pension
| Household type | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single pensioner | £250 | £1,082 | £12,987 |
| Pensioner couple | £373 | £1,615 | £19,383 |
If your household is not described in these tables, please give our advisors a call on 0808 808 2244 (Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm).
Health eligibility criteria
If you live in a home of EPC D a member of the household must be living with a chronic health condition including:
- respiratory disease (respiratory infections, broncho-constriction in asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- circulatory disease (including cardio-vascular disease, strokes and heart attacks)
- mental health (including depression, anxiety, psychosis and bipolar disorders, dementia, intellectual and development disorders)