If you’re struggling with your winter heating bills, the Warm Home Discount can really help. Find out what it is here.
Millions of UK households have access to help with their winter heating bills, via the UK government’s Warm Home Discount. With it, eligible households get £150 of electricity bills this winter - not bad right?
In this article, we’ve explained everything you need to know about the Warm Home Discount, including eligibility, how to apply, when the scheme ends, and what to do if you don’t get a letter.
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🔑 Key Points:
The Warm Home Discount runs until 2030
Eligible homes get £150 towards their energy bills
This is on top of the £150 removed from household energy bills from April 2026
You’ll qualify in England and Wales if you either get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit or are a low-income household
What Is the Warm Home Discount?
The Warm Home Discount is a UK government initiative to help eligible households cover their winter bills. Households who qualify will get £150 towards their energy bills before 31 March 2026.
It’s part of the UK government’s wider Warm Homes Plan, which is an initiative created to help homeowners reduce their energy bills with clean energy. This includes solar panels, battery storage, heat pumps, and insulation (double glazing is included in this too).
The Warm Homes Plan also includes all major grants for clean energy, such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) and ECO4 (which has been extended to now end 31 December 2026, instead of the original end date of 31 March 2026).
Read more:
Warm Home Grants: Who’s Eligible and How to Apply
How Do I Know If I Qualify?
Households in England and Wales should get the Warm Home Discount automatically if they’re receiving a qualifying means-tested benefit.
However, you’ll need to be with a supplier that is part of the scheme and have your name (or a partner’s, or legal representation) on your electricity bill on 24 August 2025.
You should have received a letter by early January 2026 confirming this. The letter will clearly say whether you’re eligible, or if you need to provide any additional information (be aware of scams however; see further down for more information).
What About Households in Scotland?
Most households in Scotland will still need to apply for the Warm Home Discount to get the £150 reduction on their energy bill. It’s best to apply as soon as possible, as the payments are made on a first-come, first-served basis and there is a limited pool of funding available.
Consider contacting your energy supplier sooner rather than later if you think you’re eligible. Here’s a list of energy suppliers in Scotland currently open for Warm Home Discount applications:
E (Gas and Electricity)
E.on Next
EDF Energy
Fuse Energy
Good Energy
Home Energy
Octopus Energy
Ovo Energy
Scottish Power
So Energy
Tru Energy
Utility Warehouse
Is the Scheme Available in Northern Ireland?
Unfortunately not, the Warm Home Discount isn’t available for households in Northern Ireland.
How To Spot Scams
Homes in England and Wales do not need to sign up for the Warm Home Discount on any third-party sites, so if you’re directed to one, run for the hills! If you’re eligible for the discount, you’ll be sent a physical letter from the Government confirming this.
Any emails, texts, or phone calls requesting your information relating to your Warm Home Discount eligibility, or offering to register you, are scams.
Never click any links or share your bank details, and if you have any concerns, give the official helpline a call on 0800 030 9322.
You should only ever use your supplier’s official channels and/or GOV.UK guidance.
What Groups Are Eligible?
There are four main groups eligible for the Warm Home Discount, referred to as core group 1, core group 2, Scottish core group, and Scottish broader group. Here’s what defines each group:
Core Group 1
People in England and Wales who receive Pension Credit Guarantee Credit and who are with suppliers participating in the scheme (any supplier with 1,000 or more customers) fall into core group 1.
The majority of people in core group 1 will automatically receive the £150 discount on their electricity or gas bill between October 2025 and March 2026. If you’re a prepayment customer, see the section further down for how you’ll receive the £150.
Core Group 2
Households that the Government identifies as being low-income and having high heating costs fall into core group 2. As with core group 1, the £150 is paid as an annual one-off discount on your gas or electricity bill between October 2025 and March 2026.
You may be eligible under core group 2 depending on whether you meet certain benefits or tax credits, and your home has a high energy cost score.
Here’s a list of the of the means-tested benefits and tax credits that qualify:
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
Scottish Core Group
People in Scotland receiving Pension Credit Guarantee Credit and are with an eligible supplier will receive the £150 through a direct discount on their electricity or gas account. If you fall into this category, and have yet to receive the discount, give the Warm Homes Discount helpline a call on 0800 030 9322.
Scottish Broader Group
Certain low-income households in Scotland will fall into the Scottish broader group, qualifying for the £150 Warm Home Discount. If you’re on a prepayment meter, check out the section below for information on how you’ll receive the £150 discount.
When and How Will I Get the £150?
You’ll get the £150 from the Warm Home Discount added automatically as credit to your electricity account any time between now and March 2026, if you’re on a standard credit or smart prepayment meter.
It started appearing in accounts as credit after October 2025, so there’s a chance your account has already been credited.
If you’re on a traditional prepayment meter, you’ll receive a top-up voucher by post, email, or text (and some might receive a cheque).
You’ll have 90 days to redeem this, but don’t fret if you run out of time - your supplier can reissue the voucher if you lose it, or it expires.
Read more:
What Happens if I Switch Suppliers or Move House?
If you’re in core group 1, core group 2, or Scottish core group, the £150 discount will be credited to your account by the supplier supplying your electricity on 24 August 2025.
Those who fit into the Scottish broader group will need to still be with the supplier they applied with on the day the £150 gets credited. If you change supplier before you receive the rebate, you’ll have to reapply with your new energy supplier.
What if I Don’t Receive a Letter?
If you’ve still not received a letter, you need to contact the Warm Home Discount helpline by 28 February 2026. Be aware that this only applies for eligible households in England and Wales.
If you live in Scotland and have applied directly for the scheme through your energy supplier, you won’t receive a letter. Instead, you’ll need to contact your supplier directly and ask them about when you can expect to receive the £150 credit on your energy account. Or, for prepayment customers, when you can expect to receive the top-up voucher (via post, email, text, or cheque).
Common Mistakes To Be Aware Of
There are a few common mistakes to consider when it comes to the Warm Home Discount. These include:
Assuming the discount is automatic for everyone: People in England and Wales that fall into core group 1 will automatically qualify. Those in core group 2 may need to apply, as might people in Scotland falling into the Scottish core group and especially the Scottish broader group.
Ignoring the letter: If the letter sent by the Government (specifically from the Department for Work and Pensions) tells you to call a helpline to confirm additional details, you must do so by the deadline written on the letter. You may not receive the discount if you fail to do this.
Your landlord pays the energy bills: If you’re a tenant paying your landlord for electricity, rather than paying your supplier directly, you probably don’t qualify for the main scheme.
You may qualify for the Park Homes scheme, which is a similar one-off discount of £150 applied to your electricity bills to help with costs.
Next Steps
If your bills are looking brutal every winter, definitely consider checking to see what help you can get.
There’s a chance that if you’re eligible and haven’t automatically received the discount, you’ll need to call the Warm Home Discount helpline on 0800 030 9322 to clarify details.
It might also be time to get a new boiler, particularly if your current one is old, inefficient, and is costing you more than it should. A new boiler can save you hundreds of pounds a year, and we’re experts in fitting new combi boilers with gas safe installation nationwide. Simply answer these questions, get your fixed price, and you could get it installed as quick as tomorrow.
