Fuel poverty: Grants for individuals; Warm Front
The Warm Front Scheme is the Government's main grant-funded programme for tackling fuel poverty. It installs energy efficiency measures, including central heating and insulation, into vulnerable private sector households. The Scheme provides a grant of up to £2,700 for families and the disabled and a grant of up to £4,000 where the work approved is for the installation of an oil fired central heating system.
Am I eligible?
Whether you are eligible is determined by whether you receive certain means-tested and disability benefits.
For move information on who is eligible, and what the Scheme can provide please check out the Warm Front Website or go to Directgov.
How do I apply for a grant?
If you wish to apply for a Warm Front grant you can do so either at www.warmfront.co.uk or you can call eaga on freephone 0800 316 6011, textphone 0800 072 0156 (from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm Monday to Friday).
If you have a general enquiry about the scheme, please contact eaga directly at: enquiry@eaga.com.
What if you're not eligible?
Practical advice on how to reduce your fuel bills is available from the Energy Saving Trust, whose website also contains information on grants and funding that could be available in your local area.
The DirectGov website also provides advice and information on reducing energy consumption in the home.
Switching fuel suppliers
You could also save up to £200 per annum by switching fuel suppliers and payment methods. Check out the energywatch website for further details.
Does the Warm Front Scheme offer value for money?
To ensure that the Warm Front Scheme is offering value for money, Defra has commissioned two independent studies from White Young Green (WYG). More information...
Management of the Warm Front Scheme
The scheme was launched in June 2000 (and was initially known as the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme). Government funding for the 2008-11 period for the scheme is just over £800 million which could help up to 400,000 vulnerable households. Over 1.6 million people in England have already received assistance since 2000.
Whilst Defra has contracted eaga plc to manage the Warm Front Scheme in England, we do however retain overall responsibility for ensuring that the Scheme fulfils its ambitions to tackle fuel poverty in a cost effective way. As such, we are responsible for setting the scope of the scheme, the grant maxima and for auditing eaga’s operations.
If you have any concerns about eaga’s management of the Scheme or of your particular application, please contact us by email at fuel.poverty@defra.gsi.gov.uk.
Page last modified: 29 February 2008