Government help for energy bills
With the cost of living having an impact on everyone's energy bills, understanding what help is available and which...
Warm Home Discount
If you receive Pension Credit or you’re on a low income with high energy costs, you might be entitled to a £150 reduction on your electricity bill through the Warm Home Discount scheme.
What is the Warm Home Discount?
The Warm Home Discount is a one-off payment of £150 to help with the cost of energy during the winter. It's designed to make things a bit easier if you're living on a low income or pension.
If your electricity supplier is part of the Warm Home Discount scheme then you don't need to apply for it – you'll get the payment automatically if you or your partner receive the Guarantee Credit portion of Pension Credit, or another qualifying benefit, and have high energy costs.
Getting a Warm Home Discount doesn't affect your entitlement to a Winter Fuel Payment or the Cold Weather Payment.
How much is the Warm Home Discount?
If you're eligible for Warm Home Discount, you'll get £150 off your bills in winter.
The money won't be paid to you directly – it'll be added as credit to your electricity account. This usually happens between October and March.
You might be able to get the discount applied to your gas bill if you're a dual-fuel customer (you have a combined plan for gas and electricity with the same supplier). If you use a prepayment meter, you'll probably be given a top-up voucher.
Some suppliers also offer indirect help to customers as part of the Warm Home Discount scheme. This might include advice on using less energy and help with reducing energy-related debts.
Am I eligible for the Warm Home Discount?
To qualify for the Warm Home Discount, you or your partner must have an account with a participating electricity supplier and one of you must claim one of the following:
- the Guarantee Credit portion of Pension Credit
- a different 'qualifying benefit' (if you have high energy costs).
The qualifying benefits include the Savings Credit portion of Pension Credit, Universal Credit and Housing Benefit.
If you claim a qualifying benefit, the government will assess your energy costs based on the type, age and size of your property. This happens on a specific date, known as the 'qualifying date'. For 2023-24, this was 13 August 2023.
Check if you're eligible for the Warm Home Discount on GOV.UK
You might not be eligible for the Warm Home Discount if you live in a more energy-efficient property, even if you receive a qualifying benefit (though this doesn't apply to recipients of the Guarantee Credit portion of Pension Credit).
If you think the energy costs assessment is inaccurate, you can challenge it by getting in touch with the Warm Home Discount helpline on 0800 030 9322.
How to claim the Warm Home Discount
Most eligible households will receive the Warm Home Discount automatically.
If you're eligible, you'll receive a letter between November and January telling you about the discount. Then, your electricity supplier will automatically apply the discount to your bill by the end of March.
This is different from previous years when you had to claim the money from your supplier if you weren't claiming the Guarantee Credit portion of Pension Credit.
If you haven't received a letter by mid-January and you think you're eligible, then you can contact the Warm Home Discount helpline on 0800 030 9322. The deadline for this winter will be announced later in the year.
What if I switch energy suppliers?
If your electricity supplier isn't part of the Warm Home Discount scheme, you could consider switching to a participating supplier. But switching may not actually save you money, depending on the deal you're offered.
Equally, a new supplier you're considering switching to might not participate in the Warm Home Discount scheme, so it's important to factor that in if you currently receive it.
It's a good idea to seek impartial advice if you're thinking about switching energy suppliers. Call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133.
Find out which suppliers participate in the Warm Home Discount Scheme on GOV.UK
What other support is available?
If you're worried about rising energy costs, then it's a good idea to check you're claiming all the benefits you're entitled to – claiming certain benefits can make you eligible for the Warm Home Discount.
You can also ask your local council about its Household Support Fund if you need help to cover the cost of food, clothing or utilities.
Are you entitled to extra money?
Do you know what benefits you're entitled to? Our online benefits calculator can help you quickly and easily find out what you could be claiming.
We're here to help
We offer support through our free advice line on 0800 678 1602. Lines are open 8am-7pm, 365 days a year. We also have specialist advisers at over 120 local Age UKs.