Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of changes to the Warm Home Discount scheme on people claiming (a) disability living allowance, (b) personal independence payments and (c) attendance allowance, who will no longer be eligible to apply for that scheme.

The Warm Home Discount is a key part of the Government’s strategy to tackle fuel poverty. The Government consulted on reforming the Warm Home Discount scheme to better target fuel poverty and to provide the rebates automatically to households, as announced in the Energy White Paper. The Government’s response to the consultation will be published in the coming weeks.

The reforms include focusing support on households on the lowest incomes who are struggling to heat their homes. Eligibility would therefore be linked to receipt of a qualifying means-tested benefit and having high energy costs. Households in receipt of a disability benefit, as well as one of the qualifying means-tested benefits and with high energy costs, would be eligible for a rebate.