The scheme – which is delivered by the Department for Energy and Net Zero – gives households claiming certain Government benefits a £150 discount on their electricity bills
A whole host of energy suppliers are giving households a £150 discount on their electricity bills this winter.
The discount is being given through the government’s Warm Home Discount scheme. This scheme – which is delivered by the Department for Energy and Net Zero – gives households claiming certain Government benefits a £150 discount on their electricity bills between October and March each year.
This year’s scheme opened on October 14, and eligible households are currently being contacted by their supplier. The money is paid directly into the energy account as credit – rather than into your bank account – by the supplier. If you’re on a traditional prepay meter, you are usually sent a top-up voucher – smart prepayments will have it applied automatically.
Under the scheme’s rules, you or your partner should automatically receive the £150 discount if one or both of you receive the Guarantee Credit portion of the benefit Pension Credit – this is known as “core group one” in England and Wales and “core group” in Scotland.
You may also automatically get 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 two” if you live in England and Wales. If you live in Scotland and you claim certain benefits, you will likely need to apply. You can do this by contacting your energy supplier directly.
The qualifying means-tested benefits include:
- Income related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- Universal Credit
- Housing benefit
- Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits
- Pension Credit Savings Credit (PCSC)
This year’s qualifying date is August 11. This means you need to be claiming the relevant benefit on this date to get the discount. If you’re eligible – or need to provide more information – you will receive a letter about the scheme between now and early January 2025. If you don’t get a letter from your supplier, and you think you’re eligible, you can call the Warm Home Discount helpline on 0800 107 8002.
What energy firms pay the Warm Home Discount?
With the £150 discount, it’s also important to know that only certain energy suppliers are part of the scheme. This means if your energy supplier is not signed up, then you will not be eligible for the discount. According to the DWP website, the following suppliers are taking part in this year’s Warm Home Discount scheme:
- Affect Energy (now part of Octopus Energy)
- Boost Energy
- British Gas (including Scottish Gas)
- Co-op Energy (now part of Octopus Energy)
- E (gas and electricity)
- Ecotricity
- EDF Energy
- E.ON Next
- Good Energy
- Home Energy
- London Power
- Octopus Energy
- Outfox the Market
- OVO Energy
- Rebel Energy
- Sainsbury’s Energy
- ScottishPower
- Shell Energy Retail
- So Energy
- Tomato Energy
- Tru Energy
- Utilita
- Utility Warehouse
- 100Green (previously Green Energy UK)
