Support with heating and insulation (Energy Company Obligation)

There are different criteria for the Energy Company Obligation and Great British Insulation Scheme.

Energy Company Obligation (ECO):

There are two groups of eligibility criteria:

• Help to Heat Group
  For people who claim certain benefits. 
• Local Authority Flexible Eligibility (ECO4 flex)
  Based on income, vulnerability and whether the Council has published a Statement of Intent setting out flexible eligibility routes.

Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)

• General Group
  For people who are in Council Tax bands A to D in England, with an EPC of D or below.
• Local Authority Flexible Eligibility (ECO4 flex)
  Based on income, vulnerability and whether the Council has published a Statement of Intent setting out flexible eligibility routes 1 to 3.

Help to Heat eligibility

You may be eligible under the Help to Heat criteria if:

• you're in the 'core group' for the Warm Home Discount scheme, or
• you receive at least one of the following benefits,and meet the income cap requirement where applicable:
  • Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Income Support
  • Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
  • Working Tax Credit
  • Child Tax Credit
  • Universal Credit
  • Housing Benefit
  • Pension Credit Savings Credit
  • Child Benefit

Under the Help to Heat criteria, you can live in a home that you own or privately rent.

Local Authority Flexible eligibility (ECO4 and Great British Insulation Scheme)

We have published our local eligibility criteria specific to South Tyneside. This is set out in our Statement of Intent (SOI) below. 

ECO4 flex and GBIS are available to private households (home owners and private renters), who can be referred to energy suppliers or their contractors for support.

Suppliers (or their representatives) must apply to the Council for approval, via a declaration signed by the Council. This will confirm  that the customer meets the criteria.

Assistance for measures installation is at the supplier's discretion and is subject to assessment, survey and available funding.

A signed declaration does not guarantee assistance.

South Tyneside's eligibility criteria is based on: 

• low income
• where you live
• certain existing health conditions which are made worse by living in a cold home

Statement of Intent (SOI) - full eligibility criteria

For full details of South Tyneside Council's eligibility criteria, read the Statement of Intent (SOI) (Version 4).

Previous versions

• Statement of Intent (SOI) (Version 3) was withdrawn and replaced with V.4 on 4 August 2023 at 12.01pm
• Statement of Intent V.2 was withdrawn and replaced with V.3 on 3 May 2023 at 12.10pm