The Warm Home Discount is a government-mandated scheme providing a one-off £150 rebate on energy bills for eligible low income and vulnerable households.
The money is not paid directly to you; instead, it is typically applied as credit to your electricity account during the winter months.
Eligibility & Qualification
- You (or your partner) receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit.
- You are on a low income and receive a qualifying means-tested benefit (e.g., Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, or Income-related ESA) and meet their energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme, which can differ between energy suppliers.
How to Apply
Most eligible households are identified automatically by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and their energy supplier. If you qualify automatically, you will receive a letter between October and December confirming the rebate.
If your circumstances have changed, you should contact your electricity supplier directly to apply.
Pre-pay or pay-as-you-go meters
You can still qualify for the discount if you use a pre-pay or pay-as-you-go electricity meter.
Your electricity supplier can tell you how you’ll get the discount if you’re eligible, for example a voucher you can use to top up your meter.
Park (mobile) homes
You apply a different way if you live in a park home.
The scheme operates during the winter, typically opening in October and concluding by the end of March. If you believe you are newly eligible for the upcoming winter scheme, you can check for new updates and verify participating suppliers using the GOV.UK Warm Home Discount Scheme overview.