Eligibility Statement of Intent

ECO 4 - Flexible Eligibility Criteria Statement of Intent

Publication date: 5 July 2022

Version number: 2

Introduction

This statement sets out our flexible eligibility criteria for the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme from April 2022 – March 2026.

The ECO4 scheme focuses on supporting low income and vulnerable households. The scheme will improve the least energy efficient homes helping to meet the Government’s fuel poverty and net zero commitments.

The flexible approach for local authorities to identifying fuel poor and vulnerable households who may benefit from heating and energy saving measures is referred to as “ECO4 Flex”.

The Council welcomes the introduction of the ECO4 Flex eligibility routes as it assists us to improve the homes of those in fuel poverty or vulnerable to the cold.

Criteria

We are publishing this Statement of Intent, on the 6 July 2022 to confirm that each of the households declared will adhere to at least one of the four available routes outlined below:

Route 1: SAP bands D-G households with an income less than £31,000. This cap applies irrespective of the property size, composition, or region.

Route 2: SAP bands E-G households that meet a combination of two of the following proxies:

Proxy 1) Homes in England in Lower-layer Super Output Area 1-3 (LSOA) as set out in the English Indices of Deprivation 2019

Proxy 2) Householders receiving a council tax rebate (rebates based on low income only, excludes single person rebates).

Proxy 3) Householders vulnerable to living in a cold home as identified in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Guidance. Only one from the list can be used, excludes the proxy ‘low income’.

Proxy 4) A householder receiving free school meals due to low-income.

Proxy 5) A householder supported by a local authority run scheme, that has been named and described by the local authority as supporting low income and vulnerable households for the purposes of NICE Guidance.

Proxy 6) A household referred to us for support by their energy supplier or Citizen's Advice, because they have been identified as struggling to pay their electricity and gas bills.

*Note proxies 1 and 5 cannot be used together.

Route 3: SAP bands D-G households that have been identified by their GP as low-income and vulnerable, with an occupant whose health conditions may be impacted further by living in a cold home. These health conditions may be cardiovascular, respiratory, immune-suppressed, or limited mobility related.

This is because we have identified a positive correlation between households who suffer from long-term health conditions and who have a low-income, with living in poorly insulated homes.

Route 4: SAP band D-G households that are referred under Route 4: Bespoke Targeting. Suppliers and local authorities can submit an application to BEIS where they have identified a low income and vulnerable household, who are not already eligible under the existing routes.

Declaration and evidence check confirmation

All potentially eligible households should apply through Ashford Borough Council or an ECO installers to ensure that they can either benefit from the scheme or be assessed for eligibility under any other relevant programme.

The officer below will be responsible for checking and verifying declarations and associated evidence submitted on behalf of the local authority:

Name: Julian Watts

Job title: Private Sector Housing Manager

Responsible person mandatory signature

The Council will administer the scheme according to BEIS’ ECO4 Order and will identify eligible households via Ofgem’s application process. The head of Housing and Environment will oversee the process of identifying eligible households under ECO4 Flex.

The eligibility information will be stored securely in line with the Council’s data protection policy, Information Commissioner’s Office Data Sharing Code, and BEIS guidance.

Signature: Signature of Sharon Williams