ECO4 Scheme: Could You Get a Free Heat Pump?

Which benefits count?

ECO4 eligibility is based on receiving a qualifying benefit. The list is broad, and you only need one person in the household to receive one of them. Qualifying benefits typically include:

• Universal Credit
• Pension Credit (Guarantee or Savings Credit)
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance and Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Income Support
• Child Benefit, within income thresholds
• Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Certain disability and carer benefits

There is also a route called ECO4 Flex, where local councils can refer households on low incomes or with health vulnerabilities even without a listed benefit. North and West Northamptonshire councils both participate.

The property requirement

Alongside the benefit, the property must have a relatively low energy rating, typically EPC D, E, F or G. This is because ECO4 is designed to lift the least efficient homes out of fuel poverty. If your home is already EPC C or above, ECO4 is unlikely to apply, but the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme still does.

Why ECO4 matters in Corby and parts of Northampton

Some Northamptonshire areas have a higher concentration of eligible homes. Corby, with its large stock of post-war and social housing, sees particularly strong ECO4 take-up, which is why we cover it in detail on our Corby heat pumps page. Parts of Northampton with social housing and lower-income neighbourhoods also have many qualifying homes.

How to apply

Applying for ECO4 runs through an approved installer and the funding energy suppliers, not directly with the government. The steps are:

1. Check your benefit and EPC eligibility, which we do for free.
2. We assess the property and confirm what measures it needs.
3. The installation is funded through the scheme at no cost to you.
4. Any required insulation is carried out as part of the package.

Act before the funding runs out

ECO4 is first-come, first-served, and the funding for each period is finite. With the December 2026 deadline approaching, eligible households should not wait. A free eligibility check takes minutes. Start on our contact page and we will tell you quickly whether you qualify for a fully funded heat pump.