Households have just two weeks left to claim £150 energy bill help

The reduction is provided through the Government’s Warm Home Discount scheme. Most people who qualify should have received a letter between late October and early January 2026 confirming their entitlement.

However, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is urging anyone who believes they meet the criteria but has not been contacted, or has not seen the reduction applied, to act quickly.

The final date to raise the issue is Friday, February 27. These affected can contact the scheme’s helpline – after that point, households risk missing out.

To qualify in England or Wales, a person must be the named account holder for their electricity bill and be receiving certain means-tested benefits.

If those conditions are met, the £150 is applied directly to the energy account rather than paid as cash.

These qualifying benefits include:

• Housing Benefit
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income Support
• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit

The scheme operates across England, Wales and Scotland, though Scottish households should note that energy suppliers in Scotland determine their own criteria.

Those north of the border are advised to contact their provider directly to verify whether they qualify.

The vast majority of those entitled to the payment will not need to take any action.

The DESNZ stated: “96 per cent of Warm Home Discount recipients in England and Wales will receive the rebate automatically this winter (2025/2026).”

Nevertheless, a small proportion of eligible households will need to telephone the helpline to complete their claim.

The department confirmed that letters sent to home addresses contain the relevant contact number.

For those who have not received any letter or their discount but believe they should qualify, the helpline number to call before February 27 is 0800 030 9322.

For households in England and Wales, the £150 reduction will be credited directly to their electricity account by their supplier rather than paid into a bank account.

This process happens automatically for those who qualify, with the discount due to appear on bills by March 31, 2026.

The discount specifically applies to electricity bills rather than gas accounts.

The following energy suppliers are all part of 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
• Fuse Energy
• Good Energy
• Home Energy
• London Power
• Octopus Energy
• Outfox Energy
• OVO
• Sainsbury’s Energy
• Scottish Gas – see British Gas
• ScottishPower
• Shell Energy Retail
• So Energy
• Square 1 Energy Ltd
• Tomato Energy
• TruEnergy
• Tulo Energy
• Utilita
• Utility Warehouse