East Suffolk Council

Mobile home winter rebate

Park home residents are now eligible to apply for a £140 annual rebate on energy bills to those in or at risk of fuel poverty in Great Britain.

Up until now most people living in park homes did not qualify for Warm Home Discount (WHD) rebates because their energy suppliers' contract is often with the site owner, not the individual residents.

This has now changed following a successful pilot scheme in 2015-16, developed by Ofgem E-Serve, energy suppliers and Charis Grants.

Eligibility

As the WHD is designed to support vulnerable consumers, recipients must meet one of the eligibility criteria set out below.

To qualify for a payment, park home residents are required to meet one of the following criteria, in addition to paying council tax at the property:

• They or their partner is in receipt of Pension Credit Guarantee and Savings or Pension Credit Savings
• They are in receipt of one of a number of means tested eligible benefits*
• They have a gross annual household income of less than £16,190 and the account holder is living with mental or physical disability or illness, or there is vulnerability within the home (children living in the house aged 5 or under or those of pensionable age)
• They have a gross annual household income of less than £16,190 and spend 10% or more of household income on energy bills to heat the property

How to apply for the rebate

Park home residents can apply for the rebate online or by calling the Charis Park Homes hotline on 0330 380 1040.

Successful applicants will then be sent a cheque totalling £140 to help with energy costs.

* Eligible benefits

• Income Support
• Income based Jobseekers' Allowance
• Income related Employment and Support Allowance (which includes a work related activity or support component)
• Universal Credit (low income elements)

And includes one of the following:

• Child element for children aged 5 or under
• Disabled child element
• Disability or pensioner premiums