Warm Home Discount scheme offering £150 off your energy bill reopens today – how it works

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The Warm Home Discount scheme has reopened today and if you’re eligible, you will get £150 off your electricity bill this winter – see exactly who qualifies here

Warm Home Discount scheme

The Warm Home Discount scheme has reopened today, offering some households £150 off their electricity bill this winter.

Around 2.8 million people – including certain pensioners and those on a low income receiving certain benefits – will qualify for the discount.

The money – which has been increased this year from £140 – should be applied between now and March 31^st, 2023.

It is paid directly into your energy account, by your supplier, instead of cash directly into your bank account.

Prepay meter

If you’re on a prepay meter, you’ll usually be sent a top-up voucher.

But not everyone can claim the Warm Home Discount. Here we explain how the scheme works and who exactly is eligible.

First, your supplier must first be signed up to the scheme – you can check the full list on the Gov.uk website.

You should get the payment automatically if you, or your partner, receive the Guarantee Credit portion of Pension Credit.

This is known as “Core Group 1” in England and Wales and “Core Group” in Scotland.

Low income

You may also be able to claim the Warm Home Discount if you are on a low income, claiming certain benefits and have high energy costs.

This is known as being in the “Core Group 2” if you live in England and Wales.

The qualifying means-tested benefits are:

• Housing Benefit
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income Support
• ‘Savings Credit’ part of Pension Credit
• Universal Credit

You could also qualify if your household income falls below a certain threshold, and you get:

• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit

Suppliers can choose to offer the discount to more customers.

If you live in Scotland, your supplier may have additional criteria and those who are on low incomes are part of the ‘Broader Group’.

Your electricity supplier decides who can get the discount in Scotland.

The key qualifying date is August 21^st, 2022, for the Warm Home Discount scheme and most people will get the money automatically.

Unlike in England and Wales, many in Scotland still need to apply.

You should receive a letter between November 2022 and January 2023 telling you about the discount if you’re eligible.

If you don’t receive a letter, and you think you’re eligible, you can call the Warm Home Discount helpline on 0800 107 8002.

The Warm Home Discount scheme is not available in Northern Ireland.