Latest news with #LowIncomeFamilies
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
Households being handed £300 cost of living cash NOW – are you eligible?
MILLIONS of households will soon be able to get their hands on £300 worth of cash to help with the cost of living. The help comes as part of the Government's Household Support Fund, and aims to aid those who are most vulnerable. The scheme has been extended a number of times, with the latest round of payments running between April 2025 and March 2026. Each council in England is allocated a portion of the £742 million fund, which it then distributes to residents struggling with the rising cost of living. Eligibility criteria varies based on where you live but usually help is offered to those on benefits or a low income. Thousands of households in West Berkshire will soon be able to benefit from the scheme, after the local council was allocated a chunk of the fund. The money will be used to give eligible households £300 to help them with the rising cost of living. Low income families with three or more children will receive a maximum of £300, while families with one to two children will be offered up to £250. Others will receive a maximum of £150. West Berkshire Council will also provide free school meal vouchers during the holidays. Eligible children will receive a total of three weeks of support to cover the holiday period and February half term. Vouchers will need to be collected at the child's school. Disability benefit explained - what you can claim The fund will also go towards supporting pensioners via targeted assistance. Eligible residents can apply to get their hands on some of the money via the council's form. What If I Don't Live In West Berkshire? The £742million Household Support Fund has been shared between all councils in England. So, if you don't live in West Berkshire but are struggling financially or are on benefits you will likely be eligible for help. Household Support Fund explained Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains what you need to know about the Household Support Fund. If you're battling to afford energy and water bills, food or other essential items and services, the Household Support Fund can act as a vital lifeline. The financial support is a little-known way for struggling families to get extra help with the cost of living. Every council in England has been given a share of £742million cash by the government to distribute to local low income households. Each local authority chooses how to pass on the support. Some offer vouchers whereas others give direct cash payments. In many instances, the value of support is worth hundreds of pounds to individual families. Just as the support varies between councils, so does the criteria for qualifying. Many councils offer the help to households on selected benefits or they may base help on the level of household income. The key is to get in touch with your local authority to see exactly what support is on offer. The current round runs until the end of March 2026. This is because the fund was originally set up to help those on low incomes or classed as vulnerable. What type of help you can get will vary but it could range from a free cash payment to supermarket vouchers. It's worth bearing in mind, because the new round of the HSF has only just opened, you might not be able to apply for help yet. However, it's worth keeping an eye on your local council's website or social media channels. Most councils have pages on their websites dedicated to their HSF as well. You might be able to find it by typing in the name of your council then "Household Support Fund" into Google search. You may have to apply for help through the HSF or you may be contacted directly by your council. Some local authorities send letters to your home to let you know about next steps you need to take. Other help if you're on a low income It's worth checking if you're eligible for benefits if you haven't already - it could boost your bank balance by thousands of pounds a year. If you're struggling with the cost of food, check where your nearest food bank is, to help you get cupboard staples for less. The Trussell Trust has hundreds of food banks across the UK, and you can find your nearest one here - Meanwhile, if you have fallen behind on your energy bills, you might be able to get a grant to wipe any debt. British Gas and Octopus Energy, the UK's two biggest energy firms, both run schemes offering customers grants worth up to £2,000. You might be able to apply for a free grant through a local charity as well. Charity Turn2Us has a free-to-use grants search tool on its website which you can find here -
The Independent
30-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Solar panel grants and UK funding – how does it work? (cloned)
If you are considering installing solar panels at your home, the good news is that there is financial help available, be it loans or grants. You can even have panels on a subscription. If you are interested in a grant, there are a number of options, depending on where in the UK you live and what you earn. Most are for those on low incomes in homes with poor insulation. The biggest is the ECO4 scheme, or Energy Company Obligation 4, to give its full title, since it covers all the UK and can cover the entire cost of solar panel installation for low-income families. Another perk, although it isn't a grant as such, is the 0 per cent VAT which applies to solar panels. This compares to the standard value added tax rate of 20 per cent for most goods and services and the reduced 5 per cent rate which applies to your domestic electricity and gas bills. The Treasury cut the rate from 5 per cent to zero per cent in 2022 and it said it will return it to 5 per cent in April 2027. Then there's the smart export guarantee, which offers a guaranteed price for the electricity you sell back to the grid. Again, not exactly a grant, but it can make balancing the books on a solar project easier and it's open to all. The schemes at a glance Name of grant Who's it for? What's on offer? Run by? Closing date ECO4 Low-income families which receive benefits Can fund all of a solar panel installation, plus other improvements UK government but funded by big energy firms March 2026. May be extended as ECO5 Warm Homes Nest Scheme Low-income families in Wales on benefits Can fund all of a solar panel installation Welsh government None Home Upgrade Scheme (HUG2) Low-income families on certain benefits Up to £18,000 UK government March 2025 Solar Together Everyone Save a third on the cost of a solar installation Some local councils Varies by local council 0 per cent VAT on solar panel installations in homes Everyone Save 5 per cent on the price of an installation UK government April 2027 Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme Scottish home owners A loan of up to £5,000 but only for hot water or hybrid panels Scottish government Closed for electric solar panels, but ongoing for thermal Smart Export Guarantee Everyone Guaranteed income for unused electricity sold to the grid Energy companies None Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4) grant What it is If you or someone you live with qualifies for state benefits, then the ECO4 grant could be for you. It is a government efficiency scheme designed to tackle fuel poverty and cut carbon emissions. As the name suggests, this is the fourth version of the scheme, it runs to 31 March 2026, and it is funded by big energy companies and administered by the energy regulator Ofgem. Who it's for You can get help if you earn less than £31,000 as a family, and receive one of the following benefits: Child Tax Credit Working Tax Credit Universal Credit Pension Guarantee Credit Pension Savings Credit Income Support Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Child Benefit Housing Benefit If you own your house, it must be rated D or lower for energy efficiency, and if you rent, it's E or lower. If you are in social housing, you may get help for insulation and heating systems, but not solar installations. You can apply with your energy company for up to £10,000 of funding. The scheme is for broad energy efficiency, so you might find that insulation and a smart thermostat are better uses of the funding for your energy use. You can also receive help for air source heat pumps, electric storage heaters, loft and wall insulation, and smart heating controls. How to apply You can apply for the funding in England, Wales and Scotland, but not Northern Ireland, by contacting your local council or a big energy firm such as British Gas. A list of participating firms is on the Ofgem website. About 18,700 homes have received solar panels or a heat pump through the scheme, according to data from the Department for Energy and Net Zero. LA Flex LA Flex, also known as ECO4 Flex, is an extension of the ECO scheme, and it allows local authorities – councils and local government, in this case – to set their own criteria for getting funding, which could mean that you might not need to be on benefits to qualify. It is targeted at people vulnerable to the effects of the cold, including the elderly and those with health problems. Your local government website should indicate if it is part of the scheme and what criteria it has chosen. So, if you earn a little above the £31,000 for most applicants for the ECO4 scheme, applying through your local council might be the best plan. Welsh Government warm homes nest scheme What it is This scheme is targeted at disadvantaged communities in Wales on low incomes, and it is unusual in having no end date yet. As with other schemes, you can apply for a plethora of improvements beyond a solar installation, including insulation and heating systems. Who it's for Naturally, this scheme is only for those who live in Wales. You will need to own a home or be a private tenant and receive a means-tested benefit or earn a low income. Finally, you will need to be in a home with an energy efficiency rating of E or lower. If your rating is D and you or someone you live with has a health condition, you may also qualify. The health conditions include respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; circulatory diseases such as strokes and heart attacks; mental health struggles, dementia and developmental disorders. There is no listed claim limit, although the Welsh Government said in 2023, that the average claim is £2,457. How to apply Contact Nest on 0808 808 2244 during office hours, Monday to Friday. Solar Together What it is Solar Together is a scheme to group-buy solar panels and batteries, keeping costs down. Solar panel providers bid for the chance to install the solar panels. It is more of a bulk discount than a grant. It is available in certain local authorities that have signed up to the scheme. Who it's for This is probably the scheme with the broadest appeal. It's open to homeowners and tenants who have gained their landlord's permission in council areas that are part of the scheme. It is UK-wide and can offer discounts of about a third compared to going it alone. How to apply Firstly, check that your council is part of the scheme. You can do that on the Solar Together website, where you can also apply. Some councils have run the scheme in the past and then withdrawn, often due to a lack of interest. Solar Together encourages you to register your interest to show that there is demand if your local authority is not taking part. Once you have applied, you wait until registration closes in your area. Then, solar installers are invited to bid for your work, with the cheapest winning. This is particularly useful for those who don't want to haggle themselves over their solar quotes. 0 per cent VAT on solar installations What it is The government typically applies VAT to most things, with food and children's clothes being the big exceptions. Domestic power also receives some relief, being charged at 5 per cent, rather than the 20 per cent levied on much of everything else. In 2022, the government decided to cut the 5 per cent it added to solar installations to zero in a bid to help homeowners to pay for them and get the UK closer to zero emissions. The government plans to end the tax break in 2027, and while it could be extended, chancellor Rachel Reeves has been looking for ways to raise money for the Treasury, and solar panels may find themselves in the firing line. Who it's for If you are buying panels and installation, you automatically get the tax break. The tax is simply not applied. Smart Export Guarantee What it is Replacing the previous feed-in tariff, the smart export guarantee was introduced in 2020 and ensures energy companies offer a rate for homeowners to sell their unused power back to the grid. This is particularly important since many homeowners will use more power at home in the evening, while solar panels generate most power during the day. Who it's for It is available across the UK, and even if you have panels and a solar battery to use your panel-generated power later in the day, it's important to have a good export agreement in place to get a good price for your power, since bigger homes may sell more than they use. How to apply The guarantee means power companies must offer a rate for selling to the grid, so there is no need to apply. But it is worth shopping around to ensure your purchased power is cheap and that you are getting a good rate when you sell, too. Home Upgrade Grant 2 Home Upgrade Grabt 2 closed in March 2025 after two years. Up to £630m of funding was available for local authorities to spend on energy efficiency and low-carbon heating in the second phase of the endearingly titled HUG, which offered up to £18,000 in some areas. It was for people who live off the gas grid, making it rather more niche than ECO4, and you must earn as a household less than £36,000 to qualify. Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme What it is This scheme is for those living in Scotland and now covers solar thermal panels – ones which heat water rather than generate electricity – and hybrid units which do both. A £5,000 interest-free loan is available for these panels. Who it's for The criteria are much more relaxed than other schemes and anyone in Scotland can apply if they are doing so for their own home. The loans are interest-free, although a 1.5 per cent fee is applied to the loan. Even after this fee is applied, it is still a very cheap way to borrow for these panels if you live in Scotland How to apply Ring Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 during normal office hours How we did our research We spoke to solar companies and fitters across the UK as well as insiders in the solar market to find you the best options on solar grants and discounts. Why trust us? The Independent has been reporting on green energy and climate matters since it was founded in 1986. Since then, we have written hundreds of reviews and news stories on energy, including the best solar fitters and various other guides on green power. Frequently asked questions Are there government grants for solar panels? Yes, the ECO4 scheme offers grants and there is also support for Welsh families through the Welsh Government warm homes nest scheme. Are there solar panel grants for tenants and landlords? Yes. Tenants will have to ask landlords for their permission to access some of these schemes, but most landlords will not object to improvements being made to their homes once they understand the nature of these schemes. The ECO4 scheme offers grants for tenants, as does the Welsh Government warm homes nest scheme. Can I get free solar panels? It is possible to get free panels if you are on benefits or have a vulnerable family member living with you, such as someone with a serious health condition. The ECO4 scheme and the Welsh Government warm homes nest scheme can offer free installation for those who qualify.
The Independent
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Solar panel grants and UK funding – how does it work?
If you are considering installing solar panels at your home, the good news is that there is financial help available, be it loans or grants. You can even have panels on a subscription. If you are interested in a grant, there are a number of options, depending on where in the UK you live and what you earn. Most are for those on low incomes in homes with poor insulation. The biggest is the ECO4 scheme, or Energy Company Obligation 4, to give its full title, since it covers all the UK and can cover the entire cost of solar panel installation for low-income families. Another perk, although it isn't a grant as such, is the 0 per cent VAT which applies to solar panels. This compares to the standard value added tax rate of 20 per cent for most goods and services and the reduced 5 per cent rate which applies to your domestic electricity and gas bills. The Treasury cut the rate from 5 per cent to zero per cent in 2022 and it said it will return it to 5 per cent in April 2027. Then there's the smart export guarantee, which offers a guaranteed price for the electricity you sell back to the grid. Again, not exactly a grant, but it can make balancing the books on a solar project easier and it's open to all. The schemes at a glance Name of grant Who's it for? What's on offer? Run by? Closing date ECO4 Low-income families which receive benefits Can fund all of a solar panel installation, plus other improvements UK government but funded by big energy firms March 2026. May be extended as ECO5 Warm Homes Nest Scheme Low-income families in Wales on benefits Can fund all of a solar panel installation Welsh government None Home Upgrade Scheme (HUG2) Low-income families on certain benefits Up to £18,000 UK government March 2025 Solar Together Everyone Save a third on the cost of a solar installation Some local councils Varies by local council 0 per cent VAT on solar panel installations in homes Everyone Save 5 per cent on the price of an installation UK government April 2027 Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme Scottish home owners A loan of up to £5,000 but only for hot water or hybrid panels Scottish government Closed for electric solar panels, but ongoing for thermal Smart Export Guarantee Everyone Guaranteed income for unused electricity sold to the grid Energy companies None Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4) grant What it is If you or someone you live with qualifies for state benefits, then the ECO4 grant could be for you. It is a government efficiency scheme designed to tackle fuel poverty and cut carbon emissions. As the name suggests, this is the fourth version of the scheme, it runs to 31 March 2026, and it is funded by big energy companies and administered by the energy regulator Ofgem. Who it's for You can get help if you earn less than £31,000 as a family, and receive one of the following benefits: Child Tax Credit Working Tax Credit Universal Credit Pension Guarantee Credit Pension Savings Credit Income Support Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Child Benefit Housing Benefit If you own your house, it must be rated D or lower for energy efficiency, and if you rent, it's E or lower. If you are in social housing, you may get help for insulation and heating systems, but not solar installations. You can apply with your energy company for up to £10,000 of funding. The scheme is for broad energy efficiency, so you might find that insulation and a smart thermostat are better uses of the funding for your energy use. You can also receive help for air source heat pumps, electric storage heaters, loft and wall insulation, and smart heating controls. How to apply You can apply for the funding in England, Wales and Scotland, but not Northern Ireland, by contacting your local council or a big energy firm such as British Gas. A list of participating firms is on the Ofgem website. About 18,700 homes have received solar panels or a heat pump through the scheme, according to data from the Department for Energy and Net Zero. LA Flex LA Flex, also known as ECO4 Flex, is an extension of the ECO scheme, and it allows local authorities – councils and local government, in this case – to set their own criteria for getting funding, which could mean that you might not need to be on benefits to qualify. It is targeted at people vulnerable to the effects of the cold, including the elderly and those with health problems. Your local government website should indicate if it is part of the scheme and what criteria it has chosen. So, if you earn a little above the £31,000 for most applicants for the ECO4 scheme, applying through your local council might be the best plan. Welsh Government warm homes nest scheme What it is This scheme is targeted at disadvantaged communities in Wales on low incomes, and it is unusual in having no end date yet. As with other schemes, you can apply for a plethora of improvements beyond a solar installation, including insulation and heating systems. Who it's for Naturally, this scheme is only for those who live in Wales. You will need to own a home or be a private tenant and receive a means-tested benefit or earn a low income. Finally, you will need to be in a home with an energy efficiency rating of E or lower. If your rating is D and you or someone you live with has a health condition, you may also qualify. The health conditions include respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; circulatory diseases such as strokes and heart attacks; mental health struggles, dementia and developmental disorders. There is no listed claim limit, although the Welsh Government said in 2023, that the average claim is £2,457. How to apply Contact Nest on 0808 808 2244 during office hours, Monday to Friday. Solar Together What it is Solar Together is a scheme to group-buy solar panels and batteries, keeping costs down. Solar panel providers bid for the chance to install the solar panels. It is more of a bulk discount than a grant. It is available in certain local authorities that have signed up to the scheme. Who it's for This is probably the scheme with the broadest appeal. It's open to homeowners and tenants who have gained their landlord's permission in council areas that are part of the scheme. It is UK-wide and can offer discounts of about a third compared to going it alone. How to apply Firstly, check that your council is part of the scheme. You can do that on the Solar Together website, where you can also apply. Some councils have run the scheme in the past and then withdrawn, often due to a lack of interest. Solar Together encourages you to register your interest to show that there is demand if your local authority is not taking part. Once you have applied, you wait until registration closes in your area. Then, solar installers are invited to bid for your work, with the cheapest winning. This is particularly useful for those who don't want to haggle themselves over their solar quotes. 0 per cent VAT on solar installations What it is The government typically applies VAT to most things, with food and children's clothes being the big exceptions. Domestic power also receives some relief, being charged at 5 per cent, rather than the 20 per cent levied on much of everything else. In 2022, the government decided to cut the 5 per cent it added to solar installations to zero in a bid to help homeowners to pay for them and get the UK closer to zero emissions. The government plans to end the tax break in 2027, and while it could be extended, chancellor Rachel Reeves has been looking for ways to raise money for the Treasury, and solar panels may find themselves in the firing line. Who it's for If you are buying panels and installation, you automatically get the tax break. The tax is simply not applied. Smart Export Guarantee What it is Replacing the previous feed-in tariff, the smart export guarantee was introduced in 2020 and ensures energy companies offer a rate for homeowners to sell their unused power back to the grid. This is particularly important since many homeowners will use more power at home in the evening, while solar panels generate most power during the day. Who it's for It is available across the UK, and even if you have panels and a solar battery to use your panel-generated power later in the day, it's important to have a good export agreement in place to get a good price for your power, since bigger homes may sell more than they use. How to apply The guarantee means power companies must offer a rate for selling to the grid, so there is no need to apply. But it is worth shopping around to ensure your purchased power is cheap and that you are getting a good rate when you sell, too. Home Upgrade Grant 2 Home Upgrade Grabt 2 closed in March 2025 after two years. Up to £630m of funding was available for local authorities to spend on energy efficiency and low-carbon heating in the second phase of the endearingly titled HUG, which offered up to £18,000 in some areas. It was for people who live off the gas grid, making it rather more niche than ECO4, and you must earn as a household less than £36,000 to qualify. Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme What it is This scheme is for those living in Scotland and now covers solar thermal panels – ones which heat water rather than generate electricity – and hybrid units which do both. A £5,000 interest-free loan is available for these panels. Who it's for The criteria are much more relaxed than other schemes and anyone in Scotland can apply if they are doing so for their own home. The loans are interest-free, although a 1.5 per cent fee is applied to the loan. Even after this fee is applied, it is still a very cheap way to borrow for these panels if you live in Scotland How to apply Ring Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 during normal office hours How we did our research We spoke to solar companies and fitters across the UK as well as insiders in the solar market to find you the best options on solar grants and discounts. Why trust us? The Independent has been reporting on green energy and climate matters since it was founded in 1986. Since then, we have written hundreds of reviews and news stories on energy, including the best solar fitters and various other guides on green power. Frequently asked questions Are there government grants for solar panels? Yes, the ECO4 scheme offers grants and there is also support for Welsh families through the Welsh Government warm homes nest scheme. Are there solar panel grants for tenants and landlords? Yes. Tenants will have to ask landlords for their permission to access some of these schemes, but most landlords will not object to improvements being made to their homes once they understand the nature of these schemes. The ECO4 scheme offers grants for tenants, as does the Welsh Government warm homes nest scheme. Can I get free solar panels? It is possible to get free panels if you are on benefits or have a vulnerable family member living with you, such as someone with a serious health condition. The ECO4 scheme and the Welsh Government warm homes nest scheme can offer free installation for those who qualify.
