Steps to Get Free Boiler Replacement for Disabled Under the ECO Scheme
The Affordable Warmth Obligation is one of the three obligations placed upon the energy giants in the UK under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Order to combat rising global temperatures by decreasing carbon emissions across the UK. Under this governmental scheme, reputed and leading energy companies including British Gas, Eon, SSE, Scottish Power, Npower and EDF, etc., are required to fund free boilers for eligible homeowners in the UK. The groups of people primarily targeted by the scheme are low-income households, pensioners, single parents and the disabled.
Verify your general eligibility under the scheme
The general criteria for eligibility for new boiler grant apply to all, irrespective of the benefits they receive from the government (or not). Firstly, the applicant must be a homeowner with the main gas supply. Secondly, the boiler sought to be replaced should be over seven years old. Boilers that are within the age range of 5-8 also qualify for a replacement under the ECO scheme provided an engineer declares that the boiler is so badly battered that it cannot be economically repaired.
Check whether you automatically qualify for the free boiler grant
Once you check that you meet the general eligibility criteria, the next step is to check whether you automatically qualify for the free boiler grant. Two groups of people fall automatically qualify for this. Firstly, pensioners who are recipients of pension credits. Secondly, households with an annual income that is less than £16,000. If you fall within any of these groups, then irrespective of your disability, you automatically qualify for a free boiler under the ECO 3 scheme.
Benefits recognised as qualifiers by the ECO 3 Scheme
The disability benefits that are recognised by the ECO 3 scheme include disability living allowance, attendance allowance, severe disablement allowance, industrial injuries disablement allowance, carer’s allowance and personal independence payment given by the Department of Work and Pensions Benefits. In addition to these six, three additional disability benefits are recognised as qualifying benefits under the government boiler grant. They include war pensions mobility supplement, armed forces independence payment and the constant attendance allowance issued by the Ministry of Defence Benefits.
Verify your eligibility by filling out a simple and quick form
If you are doubtful about your eligibility status, you can just fill out a simple application form online to verify your eligibility. The online application is free and can be filled out in under 2 minutes. Applicants must enter data regarding their address, postal code, contact information, details of the boiler sought to be replaced (age, defects), details of the property, house in which new boiler is to be installed (a type of property and house, number of rooms, insulation, etc.) and details regarding your current energy supplier. This data is used to determine the eligibility of the applicant for a free boiler grant. If eligible, the service providers contact a local installer who will come to your property and complete the installation at the earliest.