HTH Evidence

1.       Income based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)

2.       Income related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

3.       Income Support (IS)

4.       Pension Credit Guarantee Credit (PCGC)

5.       Working Tax Credit (WTC)

6.       Child Tax Credit (CTC)

7.       Universal Credit (UC)

8.       Housing Benefit

9.       Pension Credit Savings Credit (PCSC)

10.   Child Benefit (subject to income caps and composition) – subject to Anesco pre-approval only

There is limited funding available for households receiving Child benefit therefore this evidence is only accepted if pre-approved and should only be used when the household is not in receipt of another eligible benefit.

Data Match

All HTH measures must be data matched, and the result submitted within the project paperwork.

The following data match result may be received:

• Matched – a person who is confirmed by DWP as receiving an HTHG benefit
• Unmatched (verified) – a person who is confirmed by DWP as not receiving an HTHG benefit at the time of the search
• Un-verified – the person’s details could not be found and verified by DWP. This is typically due to an error with the data submitted (i.e. hidden spacing or a spelling mistake).

Where a data match result is Unmatched (verified) or unverified the following evidence should be collected:

• Benefit letter.
• Bank statement showing benefit payment being made.

Universal Credit

When a Universal Credit online account is used for evidencing, please provide a photograph of the computer or portable device showing the account information rather than a screenshot. All photos should be date/time stamped and geo tagged.

Findings by the Utilities have highlighted concerns surrounding Universal Credit statement evidence supplied as HTHG eligibility, which were proven to have been manipulated. This has been identified due to different fonts being used instead of the GOV.UK licensed font ‘GDS Transport’

Please refer to the link for further information: https://designnotes.blog.gov.uk/2015/03/11/can-i-use-the-gov-uk-fonts/

Further Requirements

Please note all documents showing HTHG eligibility must be dated no more than 12 months before the day on which the measure is completed, and the evidence cannot be dated after the day of completed installation. All non-ECO information should be redacted from the evidence.

Further information on evidencing HTHG eligibility is located within the Ofgem Delivery Guidance.

This ECO4 HTH Evidence update was originally published on 13th June 2023