Key facts
- What: The Warm Home Discount is a 150 pound electricity bill rebate for eligible households during the winter scheme window.
- Who qualifies: Eligibility differs by nation. England and Wales usually use automatic matching; Scotland may require some supplier applications.
- Value: The discount is applied to electricity accounts or prepayment meter credit, not usually paid as cash.
- Deadline: Scheme windows normally open in autumn and close during winter; supplier rules can vary.
- Next step: Check GOV.UK and your supplier when the window opens, especially if you live in Scotland.
⚡ Key Takeaways
- £150 discount on your electricity bill each winter
- Core Group: Automatically applied if you receive Pension Guarantee Credit
- Means-tested benefits (2026/27): Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, income-related ESA or Pension Credit on 23 August 2026 — the "high cost to heat" rule was removed in England & Wales from winter 2025/26
- ~2.3M more households got it last winter after the expansion (≈6M this winter)
- Applied between October and March each year
- You don't need to apply in England & Wales — most eligible households receive it automatically (Scotland may need to apply)
Since winter 2025/26, millions more homes qualify: nearly 2.3 million more households got it last winter. The government removed the "high cost to heat" threshold in England and Wales, so the £150 Warm Home Discount now reaches most households on a qualifying means-tested benefit — not just those whose homes were judged expensive to heat. This takes the total to roughly 6 million households. If you were turned down in a previous year on the "high cost to heat" rule, you may now be eligible. Always confirm the current year's rules and amount on GOV.UK.
£150 Warm Home Discount + the new £100 payment: can you get both?
Nothing announced stops you getting both. They are separate schemes with separate rules:
| £150 Warm Home Discount | £100 Household Energy Payment | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | Certain means-tested benefits: Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or income-related ESA (England and Wales) | Most households in council tax bands A–D in England |
| Paid by | Your electricity supplier, as a discount on your bill | Your council, into your bank account if you pay council tax by direct debit; if you don’t, your council will invite you to apply |
| When | Letters from late October 2026 to early January 2027; discount applied by 31 March 2027 | From January 2027 |
DESNZ’s Budget guide says people on means-tested benefits may also be eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount. Read £100 Household Energy Payment: who gets it and when.
Sources: GOV.UK Warm Home Discount and DESNZ, 28 October 2026. Checked 30 October 2026.
Will I get it automatically, or do I need to apply?
| Your situation | Automatic or apply? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit), England & Wales | Automatic | Nothing — you'll get a letter; discount applied over winter |
| Means-tested benefit, England & Wales (2026/27: on 23 August 2026) | Usually automatic | Watch for a confirmation letter; respond if asked to confirm details by the stated deadline |
| Low income, Scotland | May need to apply | Apply directly to your energy supplier when the window opens (often Aug–Sep); places are limited |
| Not sure / smaller supplier | Check | Confirm your supplier takes part and check GOV.UK for the current window |
Key facts: £150 one-off discount on your electricity bill. In England and Wales it's automatic if you got Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, income-related ESA or Pension Credit on 23 August 2026. There's no high-energy-costs test any more. Applied between October and March each winter.
The Warm Home Discount is one of the simplest energy support schemes in the UK. If you're eligible, you'll receive a one-off £150 discount applied directly to your electricity bill. You don't get cash — the discount appears as a credit on your energy account.
For some households, this happens automatically. For others, you need to apply through your energy supplier.
The two eligibility groups
Core Group 1 — Automatic (Pension Credit)
If you receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, the discount is applied automatically. The DWP matches your data with energy suppliers — you don't need to do anything.
Core Group 2 / Broader Group — Automatic (Means-tested benefits)
If you receive certain means-tested benefits (Universal Credit energy grants, income-related ESA, Housing Benefit energy grants or Pension Credit, on 23 August 2026 for this winter) you may be automatically included through a government data-matching exercise.
Important update: for winter 2025/26 the "high cost to heat" condition that previously applied to this group in England and Wales was removed, so most households on a qualifying means-tested benefit now qualify regardless of their property's energy-cost score. You'll receive a letter confirming the discount if you qualify. (Rules can change each year — check the current year on GOV.UK.)
Broader Group (Scotland)
In Scotland, a Broader Group is available as a direct £150 rebate for low-income households at risk of fuel poverty. You must apply directly to your energy supplier — applications typically open around August/September. Places are limited.
When is the discount applied?
- Core Group 1: Usually November–January
- Core Group 2: Usually December–March
- Broader Group (Scotland): December–March (varies by supplier)
If you have a prepayment meter, you may receive a voucher or notification to collect your credit.
Which suppliers participate?
Participation is mandatory for suppliers with 150,000+ domestic electricity customers:
- British Gas
- EDF
- E.ON / E.ON Next
- OVO Energy (including SSE customers)
- Scottish Power
- Octopus Energy
- Utilita
Other energy support
The Warm Home Discount can be received alongside other schemes:
- ECO4 — free insulation and heating upgrades
- £100 Household Energy Payment — a separate one-off £100 from your council for homes in council tax bands A–D in England, from January 2027
- GBIS — closed to new applications on 31 March 2026
- Winter Fuel Payment — £100–£300 for pensioners
- Cold Weather Payment — £25 per cold spell
- Crisis and Resilience Fund — council help with bills in England, which replaced the Household Support Fund in April 2026
- Priority Services Register — free support if vulnerable
Living in England in council tax band A–D? See the £100 payment for council tax bands A-D.