Warm Home Discount – Could You Save £150 on Your Heating Bills This Year?

Are you missing out on £150 toward your heating bills this winter? If you are receiving the Guarantee element of Pension Credit, then you should be eligible. But there are lots of other people who could be claiming this too.

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Read our Purpl Guide to the Warm Home Discount today and make sure you share it with your friends to keep them warm and help them save money this year.

What is the Warm Home Discount?

The Warm Home Discount is a scheme in which you could get £150 toward their energy costs each winter. This article goes through who is eligible, if you need to apply, and when it’s paid.

The Warm Home Discount scheme is available to millions of households in England and Wales, with a different scheme for Scotland, though unfortunately it does not apply in Northern Ireland.

It is important to note that in England and Wales, the discount should be automatically given to those who are eligible. But in Scotland, only people on the ‘guarantee element’ of Pension Credit will get it automatically, for all other people, you must apply or you will not receive the discount.

Warm Home Discount England and Wales

Households in England and Wales who are eligible should get the discount automatically. To get the Warm Home Discount, your supplier needs to offer it and you need to meet the eligibility criteria.

You can check if you’re eligible to receive the discount using the Government’s Warm Home Discount online tool.

Warm Home Discount Suppliers

The following suppliers are part of the scheme. If you’re not with one of these suppliers, you will not get the Warm Home Discount. Click on your supplier to find out more about the Warm Home Discount.

Eligibility in England and Wales

If you’re in England or Wales, you should get the Warm Home Discount automatically if:

You get the Guarantee element of Pension Credit.

You are on certain benefits and have “high energy costs”. The benefits are:

Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits (Provided your household income is below a certain level (there’s no set limit, it depends on your circumstances).
Housing Benefit
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Income Support
Pension Credit savings credit
Universal Credit

You needed to be in receipt of one of these benefits on the qualifying date, which is 11 August 2024. You also need to have “high energy costs” to qualify for the new scheme.

An older woman in a wheelchair is at home with a younger woman who is sat on a safa holding her hand, they are both smiling

What Does High Energy Costs Mean?

Each year, the Government will set out what the criteria for “high energy costs” will be. High energy costs are worked out by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) and energy suppliers will look at data on the age, type and floor area of your property, to decide if it’s likely to be expensive to heat. They may look at how energy-efficient it is. If the VOA is missing information, it may use your energy performance certificate (EPC).

If the DWP doesn’t have enough data, it may ask you to provide documentation to prove you’re eligible for the Warm Home Discount. This may include:

An energy bill in your name
Proof of the benefits you receive

How and When will I get the Warm Home Discount?

The £150 Warm Home Discount will almost always be a discount on your bill, not given in a cash payment.

If you’re on a standard credit or smart prepayment meter. You should get the £150 automatically added as credit on your electricity account sometime between October 2024 and March 2025. You should receive a letter by early January, confirming your discount.
If you’re on a traditional prepayment meter. You should be sent a top-up voucher, by post, email or text, though some may receive a cheque.

Warm Home Discount in Scotland

In England and Wales, the Warm Home Discount is given automatically without needing to apply, but the rules in Scotland differ. Many households will need to apply to get the £150 Warm Home Discount.

And as payments are made on a first-come, first-served basis, with a limited amount of money to give out, you need to apply as soon as possible each year to ensure you don’t miss out. Suppliers can choose to offer the discount to more customers based on additional criteria, so you should check directly with them to see if you might be eligible.

A male female couple are wrapped up warm outdoors in a snowy park

Eligibility in Scotland

Eligibility is split into two groups, but only some get the Warm Home Discount automatically:

If you get the Guarantee element of Pension Credit, it should come automatically and you should get a letter letting you know when to expect your discount. If you haven’t received your letter by early January, you can call the Warm Home Discount helpline on 0800 030 9322. Please note: You must contact the helpline by 28 February 2025.

If you are on certain benefits, you may qualify, but you must apply. The benefits are:

Universal Credit: If your earnings are below £1,665 a month AND either you have parental responsibility for a child under the age of five who usually lives with you, or you have ‘limited capability for work’ or ‘limited capability for work and work-related activity’, or your Universal Credit has a disabled child element.
Child Tax Credit. If your annual income is less than £19,978 AND either you have parental responsibility for a child under five who usually lives with you, or your Child Tax Credit has a disability element, or you get a disabled child premium.
Housing Benefit: If you have parental responsibility for a child under the age of five who usually lives with you OR you get Child Tax Credits with a disability element, a disabled child premium, a disability premium or a pensioner premium.
Income Support: If you have parental responsibility for a child under the age of five who usually lives with you OR you get Child Tax Credits with a disability element, a disabled child premium, a disability premium or a pensioner premium.
Income-based jobseeker’s allowance: If you have parental responsibility for a child under the age of five who usually lives with you OR you get Child Tax Credits with a disability element, a disabled child premium, a disability premium or a pensioner premium.
Income-related employment and support allowance: If you have parental responsibility for a child under the age of five who usually lives with you OR you get Child Tax Credits with a disability element, a disabled child premium, a disability premium or a pensioner premium.

Scottish Supplier List

You must apply to receive the discount, and time is limited, so please apply as soon as possible. Applications are now open for these Scottish suppliers:

British Gas / Scottish Gas
E.on Next
EDF Energy
Rebel Energy
Ovo / Boost
Sainsbury’s Energy – call 0808 501 5277 (9am – 5pm Monday to Thursday, 9am – 4pm Friday)
So Energy
Utility Warehouse

Applicatons as of 29th January 2025 are now closed for these suppliers:

Octopus Energy
Scottish Power
Utilita

Conclusion

If you aren’t sure whether or not you are eligible to receive the discount , you can use the Government’s Warm Home Discount online tool and/or contact your energy supplier.

Remember than if you are in Scotland and not on the Guarantee element of Pension Credit, you must apply for the discount each year by the cut off date, or you will miss out.

If you need more support around money, disability or debt, check through our Purpl Guides or contact Citizens Advice.