LOCAL AUTHORITY
FLEXIBLE ELIGIBILITY
(LA FLEX)

Criteria for identifying households in fuel poverty (LIHC)

To be eligible through this route, a household must be low income, high cost (LIHC). Low income (LI) means having a disposable income that is lower than the relevant threshold in Table 1 below after they have paid for their mortgage or rent. This comprises income from all sources, such as net earnings (after tax), income from savings and investments, pensions, all benefits (including housing benefit), and net council tax payments.

Household composition	Maximum household annual disposable income (after deducting tax, mortgage/rent and Council tax
1 Adult	£ 9,300
and 1 child	£12,200
and 2 children	£15,000
and 3 children	£18,000
and 4 or more children	£21,000
2 or more Adults	£15,200
and 1 child	£18,200
and 2 children	£21,100
and 3 children	£24,100
and 4 children or more	£26,800

Criteria for identifying low income and vulnerability to cold (LIVC)

To be eligible through this route, a household must have an income lower than the relevant threshold set out in Table 1 above AND contain one of the following:

A person with a mental or physical health condition caused or exacerbated by living in a cold home
A person with a disability
A person who is over 70 years of age
A person who is under five years of age
A person who is pregnant
A person who is terminally ill
A person with a suppressed immune systems (e.g. from cancer treatment or HIV)
A person who moves in and out of homelessness
A person with addictions
A person who has attended hospital due to a fall
A recent immigrant, asylum seeker or refugee (if living in private tenure)