Section C: Identifying Low Income & Vulnerable to Cold Households

A household will be classed as a low income household if the residents meet the Low Income Criteria (as set out in Table 1 attached at Annex 1) and a least one member of the household meets one of the Health & Vulnerability criteria defined at point 16 below.

Low income thresholds here are taken from the guidance for fuel poverty but each one has been uplifted by £1,000 to take account of additional costs experienced by vulnerable households (e.g. medical treatments / equipment, higher energy use, transport to appointments etc.)

C1: Defining a Low Income Household

As before income is defined as total household income after tax (including council tax) and housing costs (if they pay rent or mortgage) have been deducted. This includes income from pensions and all benefit (see Table 1 at Annex 1)

C2: Defining Health & Vulnerability Criteria

The relationship between living in a cold home and the potentially detrimental effects on an individual's health are extensively documented including the NICE Guidelines NG6 concerning 'excess winter deaths and illnesses and the health risks associated with cold homes'. The conditions listed below are cited as being exacerbated by living in a cold home and therefore a qualifying condition for the vulnerability criteria:-

• people with cardiovascular conditions (for example people who have suffered a heart attack, stroke or TIA)
• people with respiratory conditions (in particular, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and childhood asthma
• people with mental health conditions
• people with disabilities
• people with long term health conditions (examples may include fibromyalgia, MS, diabetes, certain types of ulcers and musculoskeletal pains)
• arthritis (osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis)
• older people (65 and older)
• households with children (under 5)
• pregnant women
• people who are terminally ill
• people with suppressed immune systems (e.g. from cancer treatment or HIV)

C3: Special Circumstances

Households may also be considered eligible due to special circumstances for example, where a member of the household is awaiting discharge from hospital or where there are issues associated with debts. We will assess such households on a case by case basis and will record all such decisions.