ECO4 Eligibility, explained.

What ECO4 pays for

ECO4 is the fourth iteration of the Energy Company Obligation, running until March 2026. It funds:

• Loft, cavity wall and solid wall insulation
• A-rated gas boilers (replacement only, not new installs)
• Air-source heat pumps
• Solar PV (limited — primarily for off-gas homes)
• Electric storage heaters
• Heating controls upgrades

Who qualifies

You qualify automatically if someone in your household receives one of:

• Universal Credit
• Pension Credit (Guarantee or Savings Credit)
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Housing Benefit
• Child Tax Credit / Working Tax Credit
• Child Benefit (with an income below £20,000 single / £31,100 couple)

ECO4 Flex — the wider route

If you don't receive a qualifying benefit, you may still qualify under ECO4 Flex, administered by your local council. Typical Flex criteria:

• Household income below £31,000
• Someone in the home has a vulnerable health condition made worse by cold (COPD, asthma, cardiovascular disease, cancer)
• Low income combined with a poor EPC rating (D, E, F or G)

Councils vary — ask yours directly, or ask an MCS installer who applies to ECO4 regularly.

The EPC requirement

Under ECO4, your home must be rated D, E, F or Gon its EPC. Homes rated C or above generally won't qualify (the logic: they're already efficient enough). If you don't have an EPC, one will be arranged as part of the survey.

How to apply

1. Gather proof of your qualifying benefit (or council Flex letter)
2. Get a free survey from an ECO4-registered installer (you can't apply direct to Ofgem)
3. The installer submits the application to one of the big energy suppliers (British Gas, Octopus, EDF, E.ON, OVO, Scottish Power, Shell Energy)
4. If approved, the installer does the work at no cost to you (or minimal cost for premium upgrades)

Quick DIY wins while you wait

ECO4 approvals can take 6-12 weeks. In the meantime, these cheap DIY draught-proofing buys pay back immediately:

• Door draught excluder — £12, saves 5-10% of heating loss
• 3M Weatherseal Tape — £8, seals window/door frames
• Chimney balloon — £20, blocks unused chimney draughts

See our full draught excluder roundup — £65-155/year savings for under £80 spend.

Common mistakes

Don't pay up-front.Legitimate ECO4 installers never ask for payment before the work is approved and surveyed. If a company demands a deposit for an "ECO4" install, it's a scam.

Check the installer is TrustMark / MCS registered. Required for ECO4 funding. You can verify their number on trustmark.org.uk.