ECO4 Flex Eligibility and Application Guide 2026
ECO4 Guide ·
ECO4 Flex: Who Qualifies Without Receiving Benefits?
ECO4 Flex allows certain low income and vulnerable households to access ECO4 without receiving a qualifying benefit. You may qualify through household income, approved vulnerability indicators, a medical referral or an authorised local targeting method. A referral does not guarantee funding or installation.
InstantGrant is an independent grant information and application support service. We are not Ofgem, the UK government, an energy supplier or a local authority. We can help households understand possible eligibility, but councils and scheme providers make the official decisions.
About This Guide
This guide explains the four official ECO4 Flex routes, property requirements, evidence and application process. It also explains the difference between a council declaration, supplier approval and final installation.
What Is ECO4 Flex?
ECO4 Flex is the flexible eligibility part of the Energy Company Obligation. It helps identify households that may be living in fuel poverty or vulnerable to the effects of a cold home but do not qualify through the standard benefits route.
Local authorities can refer eligible households to an obligated energy supplier. The Scottish and Welsh Governments can also participate in referrals, while suppliers can use certain customer debt information under the permitted routes.
ECO4 Flex does not give councils a separate pot of money to distribute. The council normally checks household eligibility and issues a declaration. An energy supplier and its delivery partners then decide whether the property can proceed and which measures are suitable.
Is ECO4 Flex Still Available in 2026?
ECO4 is scheduled to close on 31 December 2026. This closing date also applies to ECO4 Flex projects.
The scheme was originally expected to close on 31 March 2026 but received a nine month extension. The extension did not create a new delivery target, so funding and installation capacity can be limited as the final date approaches.
Some councils, suppliers and installers may stop accepting applications before the formal closing date. They need enough time to check evidence, complete the property assessment, approve the project and finish the installation.
What Is the Difference Between ECO4 and ECO4 Flex?
Feature | Standard ECO4 route | ECO4 Flex route |
|---|---|---|
Household eligibility | Normally based on an eligible means tested benefit | Based on income, approved indicators, health or authorised targeting |
Main referral source | Energy supplier or ECO delivery partner | Participating council, devolved government or supplier route |
Qualifying benefits required | Normally yes | No |
Property assessment required | Yes | Yes |
Guaranteed installation | No | No |
Funding decision | Energy supplier | Energy supplier after referral |
The main difference is how the household enters the scheme. Once a Flex household has been referred, the property still goes through technical and funding checks similar to other ECO4 projects.
What Are the Four ECO4 Flex Eligibility Routes?
Households can be referred through one of four official routes. You only need to meet one complete route, but each route has its own evidence requirements.
Route | Name | Main qualification |
|---|---|---|
Route 1 | Household income | Gross annual household income below £31,000 |
Route 2 | Proxy targeting | Usually at least two approved vulnerability indicators |
Route 3 | Medical referral | A severe or long term health condition made worse by a cold home |
Route 4 | Bespoke targeting | An alternative targeting method approved by the government |
ECO4 Flex Route 1: Household Income
Route 1 is for households with a combined gross annual income below £31,000. This is the official national threshold. It does not increase automatically because the household is larger or lives in a more expensive area.
Gross income means income before Income Tax, National Insurance and other deductions. The calculation includes the regular income of adults aged 18 or older who permanently live in the property.
This can include income belonging to:
The homeowner or main tenant
A husband, wife or partner
Adult children living permanently at the address
Other adult relatives living in the home
Lodgers who live at the property permanently
Income Usually Included
Employment earnings
Self employment income
State, workplace and private pensions
Regular benefit payments
Income from rented property
Regular interest and dividend income
Benefits in kind provided by an employer
Payments Normally Excluded
Inheritance payments
Gifts from family members
Student loans and grants
Transfers between your own bank accounts
The tax free part of a pension lump sum
Small irregular payments from selling personal belongings
A household member’s own statement is not normally enough to prove income. The council or delivery partner may ask for payslips, pension statements, benefit letters, tax documents and evidence showing which adults live at the address.
Check Whether an ECO4 Flex Route May Apply
Tell InstantGrant about your household income, property, EPC rating and any relevant health circumstances. We can help you identify a possible route before you submit evidence.
Check Your ECO4 Flex Eligibility
ECO4 Flex Route 2: Proxy Targeting
Route 2 is designed for households showing more than one recognised sign of low income or vulnerability. A household normally needs to meet at least two approved proxies.
Proxy 1: Eligible Area of Deprivation
The property is located in an area within the first, second or third decile of the relevant national deprivation index.
The council checks this using official area data. Living in a qualifying postcode can provide one proxy, but it does not usually complete Route 2 on its own.
Proxy 2: Low Income Council Tax Reduction
The household receives a Council Tax reduction because of low income. The standard single person discount does not count for this proxy.
Proxy 3: Vulnerability to Cold
A resident is considered vulnerable to the cold because of circumstances such as:
A cardiovascular condition
A respiratory condition
A mental health condition
A disability
Being aged 65 or older
Caring for a young child
Pregnancy
The household may need medical, benefit or identity evidence depending on the reason being used.
Proxy 4: Free School Meals
A child living in the household receives free school meals because of low household income. Universal free school meals that are provided to every child in a particular age group do not automatically prove low income eligibility.
Proxy 5: Support From a Council Programme
The resident receives help through an approved council scheme that identifies them as having a low income and being vulnerable to the cold. The programme must be named in the council’s ECO4 Flex Statement of Intent.
Proxy 6: Energy Payment Difficulties
Citizens Advice or an energy supplier has identified the household as struggling to pay gas or electricity bills and refers it to the council.
Proxy 7: Energy Supplier Debt Data
An obligated energy supplier identifies a customer through its own debt information. This may include customers who have remained in debt, entered a repayment arrangement or experienced repeated prepayment meter disconnection.
Proxy Combinations That Cannot Be Used
Not every pair of proxies can be combined. The current rules prevent the following combinations:
Proxy 1 cannot be combined with Proxy 3
Proxy 7 cannot be combined with Proxy 5
Proxy 7 cannot be combined with Proxy 6
Proxy 7 must be combined with one of Proxies 1 to 4
The council should check the combination before issuing a declaration. Applicants should not assume that any two personal circumstances will complete Route 2.
ECO4 Flex Route 3: Medical Referral
Route 3 can apply where someone in the household has a severe or long term health condition that is made worse by living in a cold home.
The current categories are:
Cardiovascular conditions
Respiratory diseases
Limited mobility
Immunosuppression
A relevant health professional must normally support the referral. This may involve a GP, an authorised employee of an NHS organisation or another permitted healthcare route.
The medical referral should confirm both parts of the test:
The resident has a relevant severe or long term condition.
The condition is adversely affected by living in a cold home.
A diagnosis alone may not be sufficient if the referral does not explain the connection with the cold property. The council must receive suitable evidence before making its declaration.
ECO4 Flex Route 4: Bespoke Targeting
Route 4 allows a local authority to propose another method for identifying households in fuel poverty. The method must receive government approval before it can be used.
This is not a route that an individual household can create for itself. The council develops the targeting method and includes the approved process in its local arrangements.
A Route 4 method must show that it identifies fuel poor households effectively and reaches households that are not already covered by the standard qualifying benefits.
Which Properties Qualify for ECO4 Flex?
Household eligibility is only one part of the process. The property must also have an eligible tenure and energy efficiency rating.
Flex route | Owner occupied home | Privately rented home |
|---|---|---|
Route 1 | EPC D, E, F or G | EPC E, F or G |
Route 2 | EPC E, F or G | EPC E, F or G |
Route 3 | EPC D, E, F or G | EPC E, F or G |
Route 4 | EPC D, E, F or G | EPC E, F or G |
Social housing is not eligible through the ECO4 Flex referral mechanism. Social housing providers can access other parts of ECO4 in limited circumstances, but this follows a different eligibility process.
Private tenants require the landlord’s permission before improvements are installed. The tenant’s household circumstances establish eligibility rather than the landlord’s income or benefits.
What Is an ECO4 Flex Statement of Intent?
A participating local authority publishes a Statement of Intent explaining how it will identify and refer eligible households. It should state which routes the council uses and how applications or referrals are handled.
To find it, search for:
Your council name followed by ECO4 Flex Statement of Intent.
A council may work with another authority under a delegated arrangement. It may also use an approved delivery partner to collect applications and evidence.
If you cannot find a current Statement of Intent, contact the council’s housing or energy efficiency team. ECO4 Flex participation is optional, so not every authority accepts direct applications.
How to Apply for ECO4 Flex
Identify your local authority: Use the council responsible for the property address.
Find its Statement of Intent: Check which routes the council uses and whether applications remain open.
Choose the most suitable route: This may be income, proxy targeting, medical referral or an approved local method.
Collect your evidence: Prepare income, address, tenancy, Council Tax or medical documents as required.
Submit the referral information: Follow the council or authorised delivery partner’s application process.
Wait for the declaration: The council checks the evidence and decides whether it can declare the household eligible.
Complete the property assessment: A professional assessment establishes the property rating, condition and suitable measures.
Wait for supplier approval: The supplier decides whether it will fund the proposed project.
Review the proposed work: Check the measures, provider details, guarantees and any requested contribution.
Complete installation and handover: Inspect the work and keep all documents supplied after completion.
Our guide explaining how councils manage ECO4 funding provides more detail about declarations, suppliers and installers.
What Documents May You Need?
The documents depend on the route being used. Applicants may be asked for:
Recent payslips
Pension statements
Benefit award letters
A P60, P45 or tax calculation
Self employment tax records
Bank evidence showing regular income
Council Tax documents
A tenancy agreement or mortgage statement
Evidence of adults living at the address
Free school meal confirmation
Medical or NHS referral evidence
Energy debt or repayment plan information
Landlord consent for a privately rented home
Documents should normally be recent and clearly show the applicant’s name, address and relevant information. For Route 1, evidence should cover the regular income of all adults who permanently live in the property.
Does a Council Declaration Mean You Are Approved?
No. A council declaration confirms that the household meets a Flex referral route based on the evidence checked by the council.
Further decisions are still required:
The property assessment confirms the tenure and energy performance rating.
The Retrofit Assessment identifies suitable improvements.
The project team produces an appropriate design.
The energy supplier decides whether to fund the proposed project.
The household and landlord, where relevant, give the required consent.
A valid referral can still fail to become an installation if the property is unsuitable, funding is unavailable or the work cannot be completed before the scheme closes.
What Can ECO4 Flex Fund?
ECO4 Flex gives a household access to the wider ECO4 assessment process. It does not have a separate list of products that applicants can choose from.
Depending on the property, possible improvements include:
Loft insulation
Cavity wall insulation
Internal or external wall insulation
Room in roof insulation
Underfloor insulation
Heating controls
Eligible heating system improvements
First time central heating
Air source heat pumps
Solar panels in suitable projects
Window glazing under certain conditions
Ventilation required by the retrofit design
The final measures are selected through the assessment and supplier approval process. Our guide to what ECO4 funding can cover explains each main improvement category.
Is ECO4 Flex Completely Free?
ECO4 does not provide a cash grant to the household. The energy supplier funds approved improvements through its delivery arrangements.
Many qualifying projects are delivered without a household payment. However, applicants should not assume this until the provider confirms the full arrangement in writing.
If a contribution is requested, ask for a document showing:
The complete project cost
The amount funded through ECO4
The amount you must pay
The work covered by your contribution
Whether finance or credit is involved
Cancellation and refund conditions
Do not pay an application fee to someone who claims it guarantees a council declaration or supplier approval.
ECO4 Flex in England, Wales and Scotland
Nation | ECO4 Flex status | Important point |
|---|---|---|
England | Available through participating councils and supplier routes | The Warm Homes Local Grant may provide a separate route in participating areas |
Wales | Available through participating authorities and Welsh arrangements | The Welsh Government Nest scheme is a separate possible source of support |
Scotland | Available through participating authorities and Scottish arrangements | Warmer Homes Scotland may provide a separate eligibility route |
Northern Ireland | Not available | Northern Ireland operates separate household energy programmes |
What If Your Council Does Not Offer ECO4 Flex?
First, confirm whether another council has delegated authority to manage referrals for your area. This arrangement should normally appear in the relevant Statement of Intent.
You can also ask an obligated energy supplier whether a supplier referral route applies to your circumstances. This is particularly relevant where the supplier has identified persistent fuel debt or prepayment meter difficulties.
If no ECO4 Flex route is available, check whether you qualify through an eligible benefit. You can also investigate the separate national or devolved schemes available in your part of the UK.
ECO4 Flex Scam and Safety Checks
Check who is collecting your personal and financial information. A marketing company may introduce applicants to a provider, but it cannot issue a council declaration unless it has the proper authority and council process behind it.
Before sharing evidence:
Ask for the company’s full legal name
Confirm which council and energy supplier are involved
Check the privacy notice before sending financial or medical information
Confirm that the installer responsible for the work is TrustMark registered
Check additional certification required for the proposed measure
Ask who will hold the installation contract
Request written details of guarantees and complaints procedures
Never share banking passwords or one time security codes
Do not sign blank or incomplete documents
The official rules for the four routes, property bands and evidence can be checked in the current Ofgem ECO4 Flex guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I qualify for ECO4 Flex without receiving benefits?
Yes. ECO4 Flex exists to identify certain low income or vulnerable households that may not receive a qualifying benefit. You must meet one complete Flex route and the property requirements.
What is the ECO4 Flex income limit?
Route 1 requires combined gross annual household income below £31,000. The regular income of adults aged 18 or older who permanently live in the home is included.
Does PIP qualify for ECO4 Flex?
PIP does not automatically qualify someone through the standard ECO4 benefit route. It may help provide evidence for a relevant Route 2 vulnerability proxy, subject to the complete Route 2 requirements.
Does being over 65 qualify for ECO4 Flex?
Being aged 65 or older may count as one Route 2 proxy for vulnerability to cold. It does not normally complete Route 2 by itself because at least two permitted proxies are generally required.
Can a tenant apply for ECO4 Flex?
Yes. A qualifying private tenant may be referred if the property is normally rated EPC E, F or G. The landlord must give permission before work is installed.
Can social housing tenants use ECO4 Flex?
No. The ECO4 Flex referral mechanism covers owner occupied and privately rented homes. Social housing has separate ECO4 rules and delivery arrangements.
Does a council referral guarantee funding?
No. The declaration confirms household eligibility under a Flex route. The property must still pass assessment, and an energy supplier must agree to fund the project.
Can I choose which improvements I receive?
You can discuss your concerns and preferences, but the final package is determined by the property assessment, technical design and supplier approval.
How long is an ECO4 Flex declaration valid?
A declaration can normally support a project completed within its permitted validity period, but no ECO4 project can complete after the scheme’s final deadline of 31 December 2026.
When does ECO4 Flex close?
ECO4 Flex is scheduled to close with ECO4 on 31 December 2026. Application routes may close earlier where councils, suppliers or installers lack time or funding for additional projects.
Check Your Possible ECO4 Flex Route
InstantGrant can help you understand whether income, vulnerability, health or another referral route may apply to your household. Final eligibility and funding remain subject to official checks.