The eligibility criteria for the Affordable Warmth Scheme has been changed to help more households in fuel poverty, Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced.
The changes include:
• Increasing the income threshold from £20,000 to £23,000 and;
• Dis-applying of certain benefits from the calculation of income; namely Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Carer’s Allowance and Attendance Allowance.
Making the announcement Minister Hargey said: "Since the inception of the Affordable Warmth Scheme in September 2014, over £85m has been invested to improve energy efficiency for more than 19,500 low income households.
"I have approved changes to the eligibility criteria for the Affordable Warmth Scheme so that more households in need can access the support available through this innovative scheme.
"The changes will increase the income threshold and importantly will exclude some benefits from that income calculation."
The Minister concluded: "I am committed to helping homes most in need of energy efficiency improvements and I hope these changes to the Scheme criteria will help more low income households, particularly those homes occupied by people with disabilities."
The Affordable Warmth Scheme is the Executive’s main Scheme to target and assist low income owner-occupiers and householders who rent their home from a private landlord who are most at risk of fuel poverty.
The Scheme offers a range of energy efficiency improvement measures including loft, cavity and solid wall insulation, new and replacement heating systems and replacement windows where appropriate. It is a targeted scheme where local councils actively identify the most vulnerable households who can then benefit from improvements.
The Department has laid a Statutory Rule in the Assembly today, meaning the changes should be effective from 1 July 2021.
Construction News
10/06/2021
Affordable Warmth Scheme Eligibility Criteria Updated


11/07/2025
Story Homes has submitted a full planning application to South Ribble Borough Council for a proposed new residential development in Longton, aiming to build on the success of its nearby Longton Grange scheme.
With the majority of homes now sold at Longton Grange, the developer is looking to meet co

11/07/2025
Essar Energy Transition (EET), through its subsidiary EET Property Limited, has completed the acquisition of Thornton Science Park.
The 66-acre site includes purpose-built laboratories, industrial facilities, and office space, and is set to play a central role in EET's ambition to create one of Eur

11/07/2025
Families are preparing to move into four newly completed houses for affordable rent at the Malthouse Meadows development in West Sompting, Adur.
The latest handover marks a key milestone in the delivery of high-quality, energy-efficient homes aimed at addressing local housing needs.
The four fami

11/07/2025
Galliford Try's project team at the Syngenta manufacturing site in Huddersfield has been shortlisted in two categories at the 2025 Constructing Excellence (CE) Yorkshire and Humber Awards, celebrating the success and resilience of a long-standing partnership spanning over two decades.
The team has

11/07/2025
Cambridgeshire County Council has appointed Morgan Sindall Construction to deliver a new secondary school at the heart of the Alconbury Weald development, continuing its investment in the region's educational infrastructure.
The new school, named Alconbury Weald Church Academy, will be run by the D

11/07/2025
Passengers and residents in Stone, Staffordshire, are being urged to prepare for a £7 million-plus package of railway upgrades set to improve safety, performance and long-term reliability on the West Coast Main Line.
The work, scheduled to take place during the summer school holidays, will include

11/07/2025
A ceremonial tile signing has marked a major milestone in the restoration of the historic Pippbrook House, as roof-level works near completion on the Grade II* listed building in Dorking.
Chair of Mole Valley District Council (MVDC), Councillor Roger Adams, led the event, joined by a host of guests

11/07/2025
ACS Construction Group has been appointed Principal Contractor by GE Vernova for a major infrastructure expansion at its Stafford HVDC Transformers facility, part of the company’s drive to support global decarbonisation through advanced transformer technology.
ACS commenced with the Test Supply Bui

10/07/2025
Vistry Group has agreed two major deals with housing provider Abri to enable the delivery of almost 200 affordable homes across Hampshire, marking a significant step forward in addressing local housing needs.
In Funtley, near Fareham, Vistry has completed a simultaneous land acquisition and forward

10/07/2025
Caddick Construction has officially completed its first Midlands project with the handover of Mansion House, a six-storey residential development comprising 58 new apartments, to joint venture partners Urban Splash and Places for People.
Located on the 43-acre Port Loop island alongside Birmingham