New combi boilers supplied without chaege to Pension Credit, etc.

For the record, as these conversations always end in people getting defensive, I don't think that benefit claimants are feckless - in fact think that benefits should be higher and easier to claim.

What I don't think is that people who make provision for themselves should find themselves locked out of numerous additional allowances simply because they have done so. Benefits should bring those unable to work to the level of the minimum wage, and after that everyone should pay for the same thngs at the same cost.

Lots of these sort of schemes pop up on the computer. Some by private firms, some the government or local council. All seem to apply to people on one benefit or another. We have given up looking.

Who mentioned fecklessness?

Not true that those on Pension credit hafor twenty years I was, firstly afostr parnt (bacl ve been 'feckless' in the past. Every person is a separate case.

Reason I am on it - for from paid employment, For the first twenty years when I was not in receipt of money from paid employment, and no NHI stamp was because I was SAH Mum and a foster carer. No pay for fostering back then (just expenses) - so no stamp. Then I was the unpaid carer for my husband (MS), no carers allowance,= nothing.

So when I actually retired (just before my 70th birthday), my state pension has alays been well below the maxumum, so have PC to bring it up nearly to that amount.

Throughout all those years, I was an extremely hard working, productive member of society - just unpaid!!!!

Of course it is unfair - means testing always is. It removes the incentive for people to save or plan for the future, as those who don’t are given things that savers have to pay for.

Means tests are based on the idea that the ‘average’ person shouldn’t get ‘above themselves’, but should stay in their place. The rich can afford to pay for their chosen lifestyle and the poor get given the basics free. The people in the middle are the ones who lose out every time.

There has to be a cutoff point somewhere Chakotay as with all offers.
We had our loft insulation redone about eight years ago under the £99 scheme.

It is not essential to be in receipt of pension credit to benefit from various ‘warm home’ initiatives.

energysavinggenie.co.uk/do-pensioners-qualify-for-boiler-heating-and-insulation-grants/

Germanshepherdsmum

I was talking about the boiler and insulation schemes, not pensions.

@Germanshepherdsmum you are missing the point so I will explain it again,

These scheme is only available to people on benefits one of those benefits is Pension Credit, in order to claim the guaranteed part of PC you have to have an income under £201.05 a week (for a single person) the new full state pension is £203.85 a week which is £2.80 a week too much to get PC, therefore those on the new state pension do not qualify for these free boilers NOW do you see why it is unfair?

I was talking about the boiler and insulation schemes, not pensions.

@Germanshepherdsmum you have to be joking I have a good (better than the new full ) state pension so does my husband we also have private pensions so obviously we wouldn't be entitled to pension credit and I have no issue with that, however did you know the new full pension is only a couple of pounds over the guaranteed PC limit, 1000s of pensioners are affected by this and don't get the help PC would give them, far from being something that the government should be applauded for its just another kick in the teeth for those just missing out

One that I applied to, informed me that
1. I was eligible
2. I could not it done as I lived in flat and they are not permitted to install a gas combi boiler in flats, even though there is one there now!!!!

My late parents got Govt grants to insulate their loft for free (so did we) and got totally free cavity wall insulation. I believe they also got a big discount on double glazing the whole house.

It all made a huge difference to the warmth of the house. The most difficult part was convincing my Dad that these schemes were genuine. 🤣

I was responding to MissC and her insulation.

A friend of mine has just had it done for free. We live in Wales. Government passes it on to local contractors to carry out the work.

GSM - except it does not appear to actually exist.

Three times now I have completed the first application (from advertising), get immediate reply that I appear to be eligible and someone will contact me shortly. They do not!!!

Asked my own energy supplier (EDF) and British Gas, neither know anything about it. On their advice contacted my local authority, they know nothing either.

It is a sort of scam, probably to try to find out who has elderly boilers., so they can be leaned on by salespeople.and frightened into ordering a new one.

Suppose government Ministers are more concerned at the cost of heating their new home swimming pools than in us old, poorer folks.

Perhaps government initiatives such as this - which would have been pretty costly - should receive more publicity. So much bashing of the government and little credit for things like this.

Slightly different but similar scheme where I live. Room in the roof insulation scheme. I was cold called at the door by a chap. I let him in after checking credentials. Advised that I was eligible. Checked with the council that this was legitimate which it was. It was a bit off a faff arranging dates and clearing my attic junk room. They did a great job. Insulation plasterboard over original scruffy stuff. Plastered, new skirting boards, decorated and cleaners cleared up at the end. Automatic Extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom were included. Council checked that I was happy at the end of the work. All free. All I had to do was prove that I was in receipt of a pension and that my income wasn’t over a certain amount. I couldn’t be more happy with the improvement.
There are some great schemes out there.

I did see something but I think it’s for homes that have no central heating - I may be wrong - I think it was private advertising - be careful Franbern x

Who is running the scheme?