The Warm Home Discount: A Complete Guide

The Warm Home Discount is a government scheme designed to help vulnerable households in Great Britain cope with high energy costs during the winter. It provides a one-off £150 rebate on your electricity bill. It’s not a cash payment but a credit applied directly to your account by your energy supplier between October and March.

For the winter 2026 to 2027 scheme, the process differs depending on where you live. In England and Wales, the discount is automatic for those who qualify. In Scotland, some people will need to apply directly to their energy supplier. This guide explains who is eligible, how the payment is made, and what to do if you think you’re entitled to it.

How Much Is the Discount and How Is It Paid?

The Warm Home Discount is a single payment of £150. If you are eligible, your energy supplier will apply this credit to your electricity account automatically at some point between early October 2026 and 31st March 2027. You do not need to do anything to receive the payment if you qualify automatically.

How you receive the £150 depends on how you pay for your energy:

• Standard credit or smart prepayment meter: Your supplier will add the £150 as a credit to your energy account. You’ll see this on your next bill. If you need help understanding your statement, see our guide on How to Read Your Domestic Energy Bill.

• Traditional prepayment meter: You will be sent a voucher that you can use to top up your meter at a Post Office or PayPoint outlet. Your supplier will provide instructions on how to redeem it.

• Dual fuel customers: If you get both your gas and electricity from the same supplier, you may be able to have the discount applied to your gas account instead. You will need to contact your supplier to ask if this is possible.

Who Is Eligible for the Warm Home Discount?

To qualify for the scheme, you must have an account with a participating energy supplier and your name (or your partner’s) must be on the bill on the qualifying date, which for the 2026-2027 scheme is 23rd August 2026. Eligibility rules are different for England and Wales versus Scotland.

Eligibility in England and Wales

In England and Wales, you no longer need to apply for the discount. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) uses energy cost data and benefits records to identify eligible households automatically. You will receive a letter by early January 2027 confirming your eligibility. There are two routes to qualifying:

• Core Group 1: You get the discount automatically if you or your partner received the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit on the qualifying date.

• Core Group 2: You may get the discount if you receive other means-tested benefits and your property has been identified as having high energy costs. The qualifying benefits include Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, and the Savings Credit part of Pension Credit.

Eligibility in Scotland

The scheme works differently in Scotland, with two distinct groups:

• Core Group: This works the same as in England and Wales. You will automatically receive the discount if you were in receipt of the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit on the qualifying date (23rd August 2026). You will receive a letter confirming this.

• Broader Group: You may be eligible if you are on a low income and receive certain benefits, but you must apply directly to your energy supplier. Each supplier has its own criteria for the Broader Group, and funding is limited, so it’s vital to apply as soon as the scheme opens in October. Qualifying benefits often include Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, and disability benefits like Adult Disability Payment.

Because supplier criteria vary, you should check your energy company’s website for details on who can apply and how. Applications are usually processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

What to Do If You Haven't Received Your Discount

If you live in England or Wales and believe you are eligible but have not received a letter by mid-January 2027, you should contact the official Warm Home Discount helpline on 0800 030 9322. The deadline for contacting them is usually the end of February, so it’s important to act quickly.

If you live in Scotland and are part of the Broader Group, you must remember to apply to your supplier. If you don’t apply, you won’t get the discount. If you are in the Scottish Core Group and haven’t received a letter by mid-January, you should also contact the helpline.

For everyone, if you have received a letter confirming you’ll get the discount but it hasn’t been applied to your account by 31st March 2027, you should contact your energy supplier directly.

Participating Energy Suppliers for Winter 2026-2027

Under Ofgem’s rules, all domestic energy suppliers with more than 1,000 customers are required to participate in the Warm Home Discount scheme. The list of participating suppliers for the 2026-2027 scheme includes:

Note that some brands are part of a larger company. For example, if your supplier is Scottish Gas, you are a British Gas customer for the purposes of the scheme. Similarly, London Power is supplied by Octopus Energy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What If I Live in a Park Home?

If you live in a park home and pay for your electricity as part of your pitch fees, you may still be eligible for a £150 payment. There is a separate, specific scheme for park home residents. You will need to apply for this directly. These schemes are typically administered by a third party like Charis Grants on behalf of the government. Check the official GOV.UK Warm Home Discount page for details on how to apply for the park homes scheme when it opens.

What Happens If I Switch Energy Supplier?

Your eligibility is determined by who your supplier was on the qualifying date of 23rd August 2026. If you were with a participating supplier on that date and meet the other criteria, you will receive the discount from that supplier, even if you switch away from them later in the year. The payment will be made by the supplier you were with on the qualifying date.

Can I Get the Discount If I'm on a Prepayment Meter?

Yes, you can. If you have a traditional (non-smart) prepayment meter, you’ll be sent a voucher by post or email, which you can redeem to top up your meter. If you have a smart prepayment meter, your supplier may be able to apply the £150 credit directly to your meter, just as they would for a credit customer.

I Receive Housing Benefit. Does That Mean I Qualify?

Not necessarily. In England and Wales, receiving Housing Benefit is one of the qualifying benefits for ‘Core Group 2’, but you must also be identified as living in a property with high energy costs to get the discount automatically. In Scotland, Housing Benefit may make you eligible for the ‘Broader Group’, but you will still need to apply to your supplier and meet their specific criteria.

Is the Warm Home Discount Right for You?

The Warm Home Discount provides essential support for millions of households. If you receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, you should receive the payment automatically. If you receive other benefits and live in England or Wales, the DWP will assess your eligibility without you needing to do anything.

For those in Scotland on a low income, it is crucial to check your supplier’s website as soon as the scheme opens in the autumn and apply if you meet their criteria. By understanding how the scheme works in your nation, you can ensure you get the help you’re entitled to this winter.