The government’s Energy Company Obligation (ECO) program is an extension of the Local Authority Flexible Eligibility (LA Flex) program. The LA Flex makes it simpler for councils and local authorities to broaden the ECO scheme’s eligibility criteria in their regions.
The criteria for the scheme’s eligibility are set by your local government. This means that the program will be available to more people, which is great news for those who are not eligible for the ECO4 program. The more expansive eligibility criteria will also assist in identifying the most in need of assistance households.
For Local Authority Flexible Eligibility (LA Flex), there are two primary categories of eligibility: households with low incomes and limited access to fuel.
Fuel-poor families spend more than 10% of their income on fuel, and low-income households have an annual income below 60% of the national median.
There are three ways to get money from the LA Flex program.
Low family income: a household income less than £31,000 annually
Health: Health problems caused by living in a house that is cold, such as cardiovascular, respiratory and mobility issues, or immune-suppressed conditions.
Multi Eligibility: Having a property in one of the energy bands E, F, or G and satisfying one or both of the following requirements:
- The house is in LSOA 1–3.
- The homeowner is only eligible for a low-income Council Tax rebate.
- The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has found that the householder is at risk of living in a cold house.
- The householder has been referred by the Local Authority Delivery (LAD) program, which aims to assist vulnerable and low-income households.
- Members of the household receive free school meals.
- The mortgage lender, the energy provider, or Citizens Advice have advised the family to seek assistance from the local authority due to ongoing debt on utility bills and mortgage payments.
LA Flex’s application for ECO funding is straightforward. A household’s application for the funding must first be submitted to the government agency. They will receive a grant that can be used to pay for their project once the application is approved.