Thousands of households could be eligible for a £150 discount on their energy bills this winter.
However, only certain homes will qualify for this support so who is eligible for the Warm Home Discount and how do you apply?
What is the Warm Home Discount?
This £150 concession helps families who are struggling to pay their energy bills amid the cost of living crisis. The sum of money is given to those who are eligible through credit which goes towards paying for gas and electricity.
It is a one-off discount which is applied to a household’s energy bill sometime between October 2023 and March 31, 2024. Certain suppliers administer the Warm Home Discount to help vulnerable customers in the colder months of the year.
Households could get help with their energy bills via the Warm Home Discount
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Which suppliers offer the Warm Home Discount?
According to the Government’s website, the following energy providers are taking part in the scheme:
- 100Green (formerly Green Energy UK or GEUK)
- Affect Energy – see Octopus Energy
- Boost
- British Gas
- Bulb Energy – see Octopus Energy
- Co-op Energy – see Octopus Energy
- E – also known as E (Gas and Electricity)
- Ecotricity
- E.ON Next
- EDF
- Good Energy
- London Power
- Octopus Energy
- Outfox the Market
- OVO
- Rebel Energy
- Sainsbury’s Energy
- Scottish Gas – see British Gas
- ScottishPower
- Shell Energy Retail
- So Energy
- Tomato Energy
- TruEnergy
- Utilita
- Utility Warehouse
Who is eligible for the Warm Home Discount?
Someone’s eligibility for the scheme depends on whether they live in England and Wales or Scotland. Households in Northern Ireland are unable to apply for it.
If someone lives in England and Wales, they are eligible if they either get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit or are someone on low income with expensive energy bills.
Those in Scotland can qualify if they get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit. They can also apply if they are on low income and get certain benefits, but they must meet their supplier’s criteria. People in Scotland eligible via the latter route must apply, and the number of discounts suppliers can give is limited.
Anyone who believes they are eligible but have not received their £150 discount should contact their energy supplier to see if they participate in the scheme.
Ofgem raised the energy price cap earlier this month
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How do you claim the Warm Home Discount?
In England and Wales, the concession is applied directly to a household’s bill by the supplier and people do not need to apply.
However, families in Scotland will have to apply through their energy supplier to get the Warm Home Discount, unless they qualify via Pension Credit.
Families who might be eligible for winter 2023/24 will receive a letter by early January 2024 confirming that they are.
Homes which do not get a letter but may be eligible have to contact the Warm Home Discount scheme prior to February 29, 2024.
