Households could get £150 knocked off their electricity bills this winter through a Government scheme designed to help people struggling with energy costs.
The Warm Home Discount Scheme offers eligible households a one-off £150 reduction on their electricity bill for winter 2026/27.
Letters are being sent out between late October 2026 and early January 2027, with some households being told they qualify automatically and others asked to provide more information.
The discount is separate from the Winter Fuel Payment, meaning eligible pensioners can receive both forms of support, provided they meet the rules for each scheme.
However, being over State Pension age does not automatically mean you qualify. Eligibility depends on where you live, the benefits you receive and whether your energy supplier is part of the scheme.
Who qualifies for the £150 Warm Home Discount?
In England and Wales, you may qualify if all three of the following applied on August 23, 2026:
- Your electricity supplier is part of the Warm Home Discount Scheme.
- You or your partner receive certain means-tested benefits.
- Your name or your partner's name is on the electricity bill.
This is known as being in the scheme's 'core group'.
The qualifying benefits are:
- Universal Credit.
- Housing Benefit.
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
- Pension Credit.
The discount is not automatically available to everyone receiving these benefits. You must also meet the other eligibility conditions, but if you aren't sure, it's worth applying.
When will the £150 discount be paid?
If you are eligible, you should receive a letter between late October 2026 and early January 2027.
The letter will confirm whether you qualify automatically or whether the Government needs more information before deciding.
If you qualify automatically, you do not need to do anything. Your electricity supplier will apply the £150 discount to your bill by March 31, 2027.
If the DWP needs further details, your letter will explain what you need to provide.
You must call the Warm Home Discount helpline by February 26, 2027, to confirm your information.
If you have not received a letter by early January 2027, you should contact the Warm Home Discount Scheme.
Can you get the Warm Home Discount if you receive Winter Fuel Payments?
Yes. Eligible households can receive the £150 Warm Home Discount alongside the Winter Fuel Payment, but the two schemes have separate eligibility rules.
For winter 2026/27, people born on or before June 27, 1960, may receive a Winter Fuel Payment worth between £100 and £300, depending on their circumstances.
Most payments are expected to arrive automatically in November or December.
However, people whose individual income is more than £35,000 will have their Winter Fuel Payment recovered by HMRC.
Scotland has a separate Pension Age Winter Heating Payment instead of the Winter Fuel Payment.
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What if you have a prepayment meter?
People who use prepayment electricity meters can still qualify for the Warm Home Discount.
The £150 is not usually paid as cash into a bank account. Instead, it is credited towards the electricity bill.
If you have a prepayment meter, contact your energy supplier to check how the discount will be provided. This may be through a top-up voucher.
The Warm Home Discount is available in England, Wales and Scotland, but the eligibility arrangements differ.
In Scotland, some households may need to apply through their energy supplier rather than receiving the discount automatically.
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