How Over 60s and Pensioners Can Qualify for Central Heating Grants?

Central Heating Grants for Over 60s (pensioners) aim to provide financial assistance to eligible households, particularly pensioners, to upgrade their heating systems and improve energy efficiency. These grants are part of government schemes like the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), offering funding for central heating upgrades, boiler replacements, insulation installations, and more.

Many pensioners struggle with the cost of living, yet they are often overlooked when it comes to financial assistance. In fact, many pensioners are missing out on free energy-saving grants, and many don’t know that they can qualify for the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Scheme! In this blog post, we’ll explore how pensioners can be eligible for free energy-saving grants.

Are pensioners eligible for free energy-saving grants?

I’ll get straight to the point. Yes, they do! In fact, most pensioners will be eligible for the Government’s Central Heating Grants for Over 60s under the ECO scheme, by receiving a Pension Credit, having health issues, or being vulnerable.

Moreover, we encouraged the pensioners and their family members to check if they are entitled to heating and heating insulation grants. We ask everyone to check in case there are rule changes and in advance of lengthy waits with installers.

Whether they own a home or rent one, pensioners are eligible for home improvement grants through the government-backed Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme. The £1 billion scheme has been designed to upgrade homes throughout the UK and includes grants for home insulation, such as loft, underfloor, or wall insulation. It also provides grants for repairing, replacing, or installing energy-efficient heating systems.

The scheme is designed to cut energy bills for the lowest-income homes in England, Scotland, and Wales by upgrading heating systems or installing insulation. It also reduces carbon emissions, which helps tackle climate change!

The majority of pensioners would be eligible for grants under the “health,” “vulnerable,” or “income-based” criteria. However, those who claim Pension Credit (Guarantee Element or Savings Credit) are expedited. The specific methods for applying for grants are described in this article.

Types of grants available to Central Heating Grants for Over 60s (pensioners):

• Heating upgrade grants are available for people with old, inefficient heating systems. Help with the cost of complete central heating installation, including fitting radiators, is also available, but only if the property has never had central heating.
• Insulation grants are available for people who want to install loft, underfloor, or wall insulation.
• Smart thermostat grants are available in some areas. They’ll cover the installation of smart thermostats that can help you control your heating from your devices and manage energy usage.

For more information on the different types of grants, visit our energy company obligation scheme page or check eligibility and apply in 60 seconds or less with our Grant Boilers free checker. Our website also has a lot of helpful advice regarding home improvement, saving money on bills, and reducing carbon emissions.

How do you qualify for free energy-saving measures as a pensioner?

There are three main parts to eligibility for Central Heating Grants for Over 60s under ECO grants:

• Property eligibility
• Household eligibility 
• Grant suitability and availability 

Property eligibility

You will need to live in an inefficient home with an EPC rating of E, F, or G. We expect band D properties to be accepted later in the scheme. If you don’t currently have an EPC, don’t get one; the installer will arrange the EPC as part of a free energy assessment.

Household eligibility

You (or a household member) must receive benefits, have a health condition, be considered vulnerable, or have a yearly household income of less than £31,000.

Grant suitability and availability

Grants suitable for the house where innovations are required, in addition to the property and household being qualified. Although there are several rules (established by the Government), our free grant checker will determine which grants are available for you.

Eligibility by claiming benefits

You will be eligible for the ECO scheme if you receive the following benefits. Regardless of household income and the assets that you own:

• Homeowners or private tenants
• Households with low incomes who receive any of the specific benefits, including:

 

ELIGIBLE BENEFITS
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance  (JSA)	Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Housing Benefit	Income Support (IS)
Pension Credit Guarantee Credit (PCGC)	Working Tax Credit (WTC)
Child Tax Credit (CTC)	Universal Credit (UC)
Pension Credit Savings Credit (PCSC)	Child Benefit

 

• Properties with an EPC rating of lower D, E, F, & G.

When calculating your household income, you should include all income such as your state pension, pension income, state benefits, guarantee credit, pension credit, or savings credit, but you don’t need to include other grants such as the winter fuel payment or cold weather payment.

Please remember that the rules that apply where you don’t claim benefits are not strict. The local authority sets them as part of their flexible energy rules. 

Whether you need a new boiler, upgrade your electric room heaters or electric storage heaters, or need insulation or draught proofing, there will hopefully be something to suit your needs.

Qualify for a free heating grant In 3 Simple Steps:

Apply

Fill out our online application form for Central Heating Grants for pensioners and undergo a simple evaluation to see if you qualify for government funding. Our professional grants team will then evaluate your application.

The Survey

If you successfully complete the application procedure, we will set up a free, no-obligation survey to ensure you receive the maximum reward and advise you on minimising energy usage in your home.

Installation

Our experienced and local engineers will install your chosen products at a time that suits you. All of our installations are adhere to all government guidelines.

Why is taking advantage of these Central Heating Grants for Over 60s essential?

Taking advantage of these grants as soon as possible is essential, as they won’t last forever. If you miss the deadline or if the rules change, you will not always have another opportunity to apply for them. 

The government-managed grant program aims to improve home energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions in the UK.

• The scheme is due to run until 31 March 2026, but the funding rules can change at any time.
• There are no restrictions on the number of grants you can apply for or how many times your home qualifies, but you can’t apply for the same measure twice. 

The application process is easy. It takes less than a minute to see if you meet the eligibility criteria for these government grants. 

Conclusion

The UK government has introduced Central Heating Grants for Over 60s (Pensioners). They recognise that many pensioners are concerned about how they will pay to heat their homes throughout winter due to the recent increase in gas and electricity prices.

This new Government-backed scheme to provide a Free Central Heating System to all pensioners who meet the criteria has been very successful, and many homes have benefitted.

It  targets pensioners who have never had gas central heating in their homes and are using electric heaters or solid fuel to heat their homes.