BENEFITS EXPERT: The facts determining if your home has ‘high energy costs’

“Larger properties need more energy for heat."

We have previously advised readers about the number of support packages the government have made available due to the cost of living increases as well as support for the ever increasing price of electricity and gas.

One such change was to the Warm Home Discount and changes in eligibility for what was referred to as the Broader Group.

In summary the Broader Group will no longer need to apply to their supplier for the payment. Payment will be considered if you receive Income Support, Income Based JSA, Income Based ESA, Pension Credit (Savings only), Housing Benefit, Universal Credit, Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits.

The second condition was your home must have “high energy costs” and at the time of the announcement of the new scheme there was no definition of what this meant.

We now understand that this information will be provided from data from The Valuations Office Agency (a government department).

Three facts will be used to determine if your house meets this definition of high energy costs.

Firstly, is the floor area of your home, larger properties need more energy for heat and other utilities.