If you are a homeowner or rent privately and receive Pension Credit you can apply for a boiler grant. If you don’t receive Pension Credit, don’t worry you may still qualify because boiler grants are also available for the over 60s who are on Working Tax Credits.
To qualify for the free boiler replacement for pensioners within the ECO scheme, your home must have an inefficient boiler in place. You might also be able to benefit from a boiler repair or replacement if you have an energy efficient boiler that has broken down and is too costly to repair.
As long as you meet the following criteria, you can apply for a boiler grant:
- You have an inefficient boiler
- You have an energy efficient boiler that requires costly repairs or replacement
- You own your own home, are a tenant living in privately rented accommodation, or live in social housing with poor energy efficiency
- You’re in receipt of Pension Guarantee Credit*
- Are 60 years old or more and receive Working Tax Credit
- Live in England, Scotland or Wales.
*This can be in combination with or without Pension Savings Credit, however those who receive just Savings Credit alone may not qualify.
Enter your postcode at the top of the page to start the application and one of our friendly customer service team will call you back. We’ll talk you through the process and find a Gas Safe registered installer in your area who can fit your new energy efficient boiler.
We understand that some pensioners may find the process of applying online difficult. If you require help with applying, you can ask a family member, carer or friend to apply on your behalf. If you’re in privately rented accommodation you’ll need your landlord’s permission before applying.
Before you apply please make sure you have the following available:
- Pension Credit or Working Tax Credit paperwork
- Boiler make and model
- Landlord contact details if you are a private tenant
We will need this information before we can proceed with your application.
Who pays for the boiler?
Boiler replacement grants are funded by energy companies through the Government’s Energy Company Obligation, known as ECO. The ECO scheme was set in place to tackle fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions across Great Britain. Replacing inefficient boilers for low income households will help meet these targets, as this lowers the amount of wasted energy produced by old boilers. The government-backed scheme has been around since 2013 and will run until March 2026, so there’s plenty of time to apply.
It’s worth noting that 100% funding isn’t guaranteed and you may have to make a contribution towards the cost of the install. The boiler grant is for replacing the boiler unit only. If your central heating needs updating as well or remedial work is required you will need to pay for this separately.
All attending companies will complete a survey of your property first and will advise of extra costs, if any, before going ahead with any work so there’s no need to worry about getting a bill you weren’t expecting. You are not obliged to have the work carried out if you are not happy with any aspect of the process.
Will a boiler grant affect my winter fuel payment?
No, if you qualify for a replacement boiler grant this will have no effect on your winter fuel payment. The winter fuel payment is a tax-free sum of between £250 and £600 to help pay your heating bills. Anyone receiving a state pension who was born on or before 25 September 1957 is entitled to this payment.
If you do qualify for a boiler grant you will of course benefit from a more fuel efficient boiler so your winter fuel payment will stretch that little bit further.
We’re here to help.
We’ve helped over 130,000 people apply for a boiler grant since 2013 and many have taken the time to let us know how happy they have been with our service. If you need some reassurance that we’ll look after you please read some of the kind comments we have received on our service.
If you’re one of the millions of households in the UK struggling to pay your heating bills, you may be living in fuel poverty. Take a look at Fuel Poverty: How to Reduce Your Heating Bills for advice and guidance and find out if you could be entitled to support from the government.
