Cut your bills and warm up your home

IF YOU own your own home, have a household income of under £30,000 or receive a qualifying benefit you may be eligible for a grant to make your house warmer and reduce energy bills.

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has secured £11.3m from the government’s Green Homes Grant scheme.

This will be split across the region’s six local authorities to pay for work on improving the energy efficiency of around 1,200 homes by the end of 2021.

Halton has secured £728,000 of the funding, which could improve 72 properties. This is the first phase of this scheme to be delivered in Halton and it is hoped more funding will be secured to continue the Green Homes Grant scheme into future years.

Potential improvements will vary depending on the individual property, but may include: cavity and solid wall insulation; loft insulation; under floor insulation; alternative heating systems such as air source heat pumps and solar PV panels.

You may be eligible for funding if a home owner with a household income of less than £30,000 a year, or also in receipt of a qualifying benefit and your home has no Energy Performance Certificate or has a rating of D, E, F or G.

List of qualifying welfare benefits: Income Support; Income-Based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA); Income-Based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA); Universal Credit; Pension Guarantee Credit (excluding Pension Savings Credit); Child Tax Credit; Working Tax Credit; Disability Living Allowance; Personal Independence Payment (PIP); Attendance Allowance; Carer’s Allowance; Severe Disablement Allowance; Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefits; Contribution-Based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA); Contribution-Based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA); Housing Benefit.

If you meet the criteria, email: greenhomesgrant@ halton.gov.uk

If thought eligible, you will be asked to complete an application; if accepted a Halton Borough Council approved company will carry out a survey and arrange any improvement works.