The benefits that mean you are eligible for the ECO4 scheme are:

• Pension Credit 

• Universal Credit

• Income based Jobseekers allowance 

• Income related Employment & Support Allowance 

• Income Support 

• Housing Benefit

• Tax Credits (Child or Working Tax Credit) 

You also qualify if you claim Child Benefit and have an annual income below a threshold. The limit varies between single people and couples and depends on the number of children you have, as set out in the table below. 

Income limit if you only claim Child Benefit

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Number of children

 1 adult household

1)£19,900

2)£24,800

3)£29,600

4)£34,500

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 2 adult household

1)£27,500

2)£32,300

3)£37,200

4)£42,000

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If you don’t claim any of the benefits above you could also qualify for funding through your council’s ECO4 Flex rules. These rules allow households to apply if they don’t claim benefits and they earn under £31,000 per year, have a health condition made worse by living in a cold home or are vulnerable to the effects of living in a cold home.

In order to apply through ECO4 Flex your council needs to publish their statement of intent. Most aren’t expected to allow applications until late 2022 or early 2023.

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As well as being in receipt of one of the benefits listed above, eligibility for the ECO4 scheme is dependent on the energy rating of your home. This rating is shown on the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for your property. 

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To qualify under ECO4 your property must have an EPC rating of D, E, F or G. Energy companies can only spend 15% of their funding on Band D properties and because of this applications are only being accepted for properties with an E, F or G rating.

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If your property has an EPC rating of A-C you do not qualify, as in order to get this rating your property will already be well insulated and adequately heated.

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All existing EPCs can be viewed on the government's  (England and Wales) or the  (Scotland).

If you don’t currently have an EPC a Registered Installer can estimate the rating when you apply and they’ll produce an EPC for you if the application is successful.

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What kind of insulation will a grant cover?

The grants are very generous for the properties that qualify and the grants can include:

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• Air Source Heat Pumps

• Boiler Upgrades (non-condensing boilers and for homeowners only)

• Cavity wall insulation

• Electric storage heaters (homeowners only)

• First time central heating (providing there was a gas connection prior to 31 March 2022)

• Internal wall insulation

• Loft insulation

• Room in roof insulation for a loft that has been converted into a room

• Underfloor insulation

You may be offered enough to fund the entire cost of improving insulation or installing other measures. However, some people receive only some of the money and need to contribute the remaining amount.  

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To receive an ECO grant, a registered installer will need to survey your home to check you meet all the necessary criteria. They'll double check what benefits you receive and confirm your status (whether you're a private tenant or own your own home). You will also be asked about energy efficiency in your home and possibly details about your EPC.

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