What You Should Know About ECO4

The ECO4 grant might not be something you are very familiar with, and we want to provide some help here for anyone who is wondering if they might qualify for it or if it can assist them in any way. The ECO in this grant means Energy Company Obligation, and it is a government energy assistance scheme that could cut down on how much you pay for your energy. It also doubles as a way of benefiting the environment by changing how much carbon emission is created. 

The ECO scheme is set to receive £1 billion in funding annually, and that should provide energy saving benefits to thousands of families and individuals. 

The scheme is aimed at households that are financially disadvantaged, but keep in mind that it is designed to improve energy efficiency as well. One goal of the scheme is that it will work toward ensuring every home in the UK is rated as Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band C by 2030. 

If the scheme is able to reduce energy costs for people who struggle to pay their energy bills, and if it can also cut back on carbon emission and benefit the environment, then it will have been a success.  

Which of these FREE Measures Do You Fancy?!!

You could qualify for the following insulation, heating and renewable energy products and measures:

INSULATION:

• Loft Insulation
• Cavity Wall Insulation
• Room in Roof Insulation
• Internal Wall Insulation (IWI)
• External Wall Insulation (EWI)
• Flat Roof Insulation

HEATING:

• Boiler Upgrades
• First Time Central Heating (FTCH)

RENEWABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS:

• Solar PV
• Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP)

Is ECO4 for You?

Now, not everyone can qualify for this scheme, as it is aimed specifically at people who are experiencing fuel poverty. What this means is that the scheme is targeted toward anyone who has to spend more than 10% of what they earn on energy expenses. 

What makes ECO4 a step up from the earlier ECO grants is that it attempts to improve EPC ratings for homeowners and renters. Qualifying for this grant comes down to personal benefits, health, and earnings. The double focus of the grant gives applicants multiple eligibility paths to the grant. If you are not sure if you qualify, then you should keep on reading for your answer. 

Who Is EPC Eligible?

To be eligible for ECO4 your home or property must first meet the following EPC criteria

• Homeowners – your property must be in EPC bands D, E, F and G
  
• Private tenants (or landlords) – your property must be in EPC bands E, F and G

The EPC of your home or property can easily be found by visiting this website if you live in England or Wales or this website if you live in Scotland.

Do Your Benefits Make You Eligible?

In addition to the EPC qualification, some one living at the property (it doesn’t have to be the owner occupier or the main tenant) must be on one the following ECO4 qualifying benefits:

• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment & Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support (IS)
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• Working Tax Credit (WTC)
• Child Tax Credits (CTC)
• Universal Credit (UC)
• Housing Benefit (new eligible benefit under ECO4)
• Pension Credit Savings Credit (new eligible benefit under ECO4)
• Child Benefit (Income Related)
• Support for Low-Income Household

Eligibility through Child Benefits

If you receive the Child Tax Benefit, you may be able to qualify for the ECO4 grant. How much money you receive from the grant will determine your eligibility, though. Your Child Benefit will need to be below £19,900 for single parents with one child to qualify. The amount you receive will determine your eligibility based on your marriage and parental status as well as the number of children in your household. 

How Else Might You Be Eligible?

For those who receive none of the above benefits, there are other ways to qualify as well. Income is the primary way households will qualify for ECO4, and those receiving less than £31,000 annually are typically approved for the grant. If your home is vulnerable to the cold or your children receive school lunches at no cost, then you may qualify through those means as well. 

If your household has been referred to the Local Authority for financial reasons, you might be eligible for the grant. Any application for ECO4 will need to have documents to back it up. You can try applying for the grant, if you think you meet any of the qualifying reasons we have listed. Approval for the grant can mean big savings on your energy bill and more comfort for you and your family. 

Even if your application is turned down, you may be able to take advantage of other energy saving grants and schemes that are available.