Solar Panel Grants for Disabled People

If you have some form of disability you could be eligible for a grant that will help you get solar panels fitted at your home. The government ECO scheme helps low-income households or those who receive eligible benefits or are deemed to be vulnerable, to get access to solar panel grants, enabling them to save money on their energy bills and become more environmentally friendly.

The grants are available to households, including those containing at least one person who has a disability and is in receipt of one of the eligible benefits or whose household income is less than £31,000. The grants are open to people whether they own their own home or are a privately renting tenant, but not those who live in local authority run housing. 

If you receive one of the eligible benefits listed below or have a low income, there is a very good possibility that you could be entitled to a solar panel grant. This would make a significant difference to you and your household, particularly if you struggle with the escalating cost of heating your home year on year.

How does the ECO4 scheme work for solar panel grants?

Since its introduction, the ECO scheme has been a useful and successful way of providing grants for disabled people and other individuals who might struggle with consistently rising energy costs to enable them to get more efficient and cost-effective forms of heating. The scheme gives responsibility for providing solar panel grants to many of the main energy suppliers including British Gas, EDF Energy, E.on, Npower, Scottish Power, SSE plus others.

This is all part of the government’s effort to reduce carbon emissions from households across the UK in order to meet their targets for greenhouse gases and mitigating the effects of climate change. Solar panel grants allow qualifying individuals to get solar panels installed for free or at a fraction of their normal cost. Before you apply for a solar panel grant it is important to ensure that your home and roof is suitable to have solar panels fitted.

solar panel grants for disabled
disabled benefits for free solar panels

What benefits do you need to receive to get a solar panel grant for disabled people?

In the previous ECO3 scheme there were multiple qualifying benefits for disabled people to get solar panel grants. With the introduction of the ECO4 scheme in replacement of ECO3, there have been some changes made, including alterations to the benefits that are eligible. There is now a stronger focus on income when it comes to eligible households for ECO4 with low-income individuals being included (irrespective of whether they claim government benefits) as well as those who actually do receive an income-related benefit. 

Qualifying benefits include the ones listed below:

  • Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
  • Income-related Employment Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Income Support (IS)
  • Pensions Credit Guarantee Credit
  • Working Tax Credit (WTC)
  • Child Tax Credits (CTC)
  • Universal Credit (UC)
  • Housing Benefit (now an eligible benefit through ECO4)
  • Pension Credit Savings Credit (now an eligible benefit through ECO4)

What savings can you make with solar panels?

how much can you save with solar grants for disabled

Solar panels can be much more energy-efficient and save you a lot of money on your annual bills in comparison to traditional types of heating. Estimates from the Energy Saving Trust show that the  household can decrease their bills by as much as £500 a year if they were to spend the majority of their day at home. 

 

 

 

 

Estimated annual savings on bills as a result of installing solar are as follows:

  • Home all day – £500
  • Home in mornings – £400
  • Home in afternoons – £360
  • Out all day until 4pm – £250
  • Out all day until 6pm –   £205

Savings can be even greater if combined with the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) which allows households to sell excess solar energy produced back to the grid in return for payment. 

Source: Energy Saving Trust and based on October 2022 figures.

Types of Solar Grants

Find out more information if one of these applies to you:

Find out how much your home could save with free funding and by going green.

How your new solar set up will work for you

Generate Energy

Solar PV panels are made of multiple semiconducting cells that generate electricity when light hits them.

Store Energy

The electricity created can be used, stored in a solar battery, or exported to the grid to receive money from the energy companies.

Works even on gloomy days

Solar panels require light, not necessarily direct sunlight, in order to generate electricity.

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