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Warm Front Explained
In England, Warm Front is no longer the name for a weather system found predominantly in the South. No, it’s now the term for a special grant run by the government and available to those in England, which can help to make your home a warmer and more energy efficient place. Although there are similar schemes available in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, Warm Front is slightly different, so it’s important that you understand exactly what Warm Front provides, and more importantly, if you’re eligible for it!
The Warm Front scheme can provide grants of up to £6,000 to those living in, or renting, a privately-owned property. The grants are given out in order to install or improve on central heating and insulation systems. If you are eligible for support from the scheme, you may be entitled to help with loft, cavity wall and hot water tank insulation, draught-proofing, petrol, oil, gas or electric heating and a new glass-fronted fire. And the best part is, if you’re eligible to receive help from this scheme, you probably won’t have to pay, as most of the costs are covered by the UK government.
The Warm Front scheme happens in four stages. Firstly, you have to apply for a grant, which you can do over the phone, by post, or online. After you’ve applied, some government official somewhere will decide whether or not the Warm Front scheme can help you. If they decide in your favour, the second step will begin – an engineer will come round to examine your house. Don’t worry, they won’t be interested in your botched paint job or dodgy DIY cabinet – they’ll just examine the heating and insulation systems you’ve got already and make suggestions for how they can be improved. After this, you’ll get a call from an installer, who’ll ask you to pick a date for your heating update – and according to the government website, the work should take no longer than five months after your survey takes place. You may have to have your heating inspected at random intervals to ensure the installer did a good job.
Now the important bit – are you eligible? You may be if you receive any of the following benefits:
- Pension credit
- Income-related employment and support allowance
- Income support
- Jobseeker’s allowance
In order to receive help from Warm Front, you must also receive or be eligible for:
- A pension premium
- A disability support premium of any kind
- Child tax credit
Alternatively, you may have a child under the age of five.
To find out more visit:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/Energyand
watersaving/
Energygrants/DG_10018661
and to apply for a Warm Front grant you can visit:
https://web.eagagroup.com/referrerEBS/createReferralPublic.pdo?
referrer=WFPUB
Article by Connor Sephton, 23rd September 2011. Content correct at the date of publication.
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