Are you finding it difficult to pay for everyday household warmth? With energy prices for homes rising all the time, it’s no surprise that so many of us are reaching out for a little extra assistance. Thankfully, the Affordable Warmth Scheme is here to help make everyday comfort and living that little bit more accessible to those with low income.
Fuel poverty is something which is affecting millions of people. The Affordable Warmth Scheme is a system of aid which will seek to help those hardest hit by the cost of winter comforts in the UK. However, there are a few qualifying factors you’ll need to meet before you can access such funding or grant money.
URP Group’s new website and form will enable you to apply for funding and grants through the Department of Work and Pensions and your energy supplier. By filling out a few details through our web form, we will make sure to liaise with the DWP on your behalf. What’s more, we will work to survey your home and to help you find ways in which you can comfortably access funding to cut down on your energy costs.
What Exactly is the Affordable Warmth Scheme?
The Affordable Warmth Scheme, or AWS, is a standard through which homeowners and private tenants can ask the government and their energy supplier for support with paying energy bills. Essentially, the scheme will allow people to take advantage of energy efficiency enhancements at no additional cost. This is through private grants, which means that if local councils ascertain that you are eligible for such support, you could find your energy expenditure decrease hugely season on season.
The AWS will allow you to make changes to your property in line with any grants you receive. For example, you may be able to set up energy-efficiency measures which would otherwise cost you thousands of pounds to establish. Crucially, you will need to meet criteria before you can start any private work through the grants you stand to receive.
What’s more, you will need to agree to a private inspection before you can fully benefit from any kind of government or AWS grant. At URP, we will help you to understand the criteria expected of you with a simple form that you can fill out online.
How Do I Qualify?
As with any form of government benefits, there will be a few qualifying measures you need to meet. For example, you will need to declare your full income and living circumstances, and what’s more, you will also need to declare any benefits you may already receive through the DWP.
For example, if you are a private homeowner or tenant, or if you live in social housing, you may be eligible for support from your energy supplier and the DWP. Many people accepting benefits, too, will be able to take full advantage of such grants.
If you accept child tax credits, child benefits, severe disability allowance, carer’s allowance, certain JSA elements, income support or universal credit, for example, you may find that you can claim for upgrades and enhancements to your home. These may include simple insulation to help drive down the costs of the energy you pump through your home.
Crucially, the AWS is in place to help people on low income continue to feel safe and warm without having to pay extortionate bills and rates for the central heating they depend on from day to day. Sadly, energy bills are always set to rise, which is why it is crucial you reach out for help wherever and whenever it may become available.
What Does a Home Inspection Entail?
Under AWS rules, this element of the application is referred to as the ‘technical assessment’. At this stage, a dedicated Housing Officer will approach your premises to carry out checks and measures. In fact, you can arrange for an inspection with URP to ensure that you pass all the checks that your supplier, and the DWP, are likely to look for.
You can set up checks for free with our team without any form of obligation. Our team of experts can undertake surveys for you so that you can be sure of whether or not you stand to benefit from financial support from the AWS or ECO schemes.
A home inspection isn’t anything to worry about. This will simply ascertain where there is room in your home to benefit from energy-saving utilities and services. We will work hard to find flexible, practical solutions which millions of people across the country are already benefiting from.
How Else Can URP Help?
URP is here to support those UK homeowners and tenants who may be struggling to cope with mounting energy bills and rising rates. For people on low income, and those who are dependent on benefits, it is getting more and more expensive to simply stay safe and warm. This, naturally, isn’t fair to people who are striving to earn more money, and who are working to support their families and loved ones.
With URP’s dedicated inspection service, as well as our form to help you to apply for grants, it is getting easier and easier for those in need to seek support when they need it the most. We don’t believe that anyone should be forced to pay premium rates for a basic human right. Therefore, we encourage you to take a look at our online support and form, and to get in touch with us on 0114 247 3085 as soon as possible.
It is great news that energy suppliers and government services are working to support those of us in the UK with low incomes. However, it all starts with a grant claim – and we’re here to help you tick the right boxes. Sign up for grant applications through the Affordable Warmth Scheme, and you might be saving hundreds of pounds year on year. Why should you have to pay more? Take a look through our new website for more details.
