MORE than 250,000 families are set to receive letters this week confirming their £150 discount on energy bills this winter.
The Warm Home Discount letters are being sent to households across England and Wales from Tuesday, with all those entitled set to receive one before January.
The Warm Home Discount Scheme is a one-off £150 discount off your electricity bill.
If you’re eligible, your supplier will apply the discount to your bill.
The Warm Home Discount has expanded this year, removing the “hard-to-heat” rule for England and Wales.
Low-income families on certain benefits no longer need to live in energy-inefficient homes to qualify.
This means that an extra 2.7million households are eligible to receive the £150 discount this winter.
In total, around six million households will benefit across England, Scotland and Wales this year, including 900,000 more families with children and a total of 1.8million households in fuel poverty.
However, some households will need to provide more information to get the discount.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “Letters will be dropping on doormats across the country this week containing welcome news for hundreds of thousands of families.
“This Government is determined to tackle energy affordability for families, and this winter more people will be helped as a result.
“And I would urge anyone who needs to provide extra information to follow the straightforward steps and make sure they get money off their bills this winter.”
Am I eligible?
To be eligible for the discount, you need to have been claiming one of the following means-tested benefits on a specific date – August 24:
If you weren’t claiming any of these benefits on August 24, 2025, you won’t be eligible for the payment.
However, even if you aren’t receiving pension credit on the qualifying date, there’s a trick you can follow to ensure that you get the extra cash later.
This is because your eligibility for certain benefits can be backdated.
For example, successful pension credit claims can be backdated by three months.
Claims for Universal Credit can be backdated by one month.
Around 700,000 pensioners are eligible for pension credit but not claiming it.
Do I need to apply?
For most eligible households in England and Wales, the letter will confirm that they are eligible and will receive the discount automatically.
But some households will need to provide extra information to ensure they get the discount.
In this case, your letter will advise you to call the helpline provided.
You will then need an electricity bill or statement to confirm the billpayer’s name and account number.
If you don’t get the letter by early January 2026 and you think you’re eligible, you need to call the helpline on 0800 030 9322.
If you’re eligible, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill by March 31, 2026.
The Warm Home Discount is available no matter who your energy provider is.
If you live in Scotland, you may need to apply for the Warm Home Discount.
In Scotland there’s a “core group” that’ll receive an automatic payment and a “broader group” which has to apply for the scheme with their energy provider.
You’ll need to check with your energy supplier directly to see the eligibility requirements and details on how to apply.
What other help is available?
If you are worried about your energy bills, additional help may be available from Britain’s major energy suppliers this winter.
British Gas has put aside £140million to support customers facing financial hardship through its Energy Support Fund.
Households in England, Scotland and Wales could be eligible for up to £2,000 support with their energy bills this winter.
The fund is available to existing British Gas customers who are experiencing or are at risk of fuel poverty.
Octopus Energy has a £30million Assist Fund to help struggling customers.
This includes direct financial support added as credit on your Octopus account, standing charge waivers and free electric blankets, depending on eligibility and circumstances.
If you’d like to apply, Octopus will ask for some information about your incomings and outgoings to better understand your situation, then offer you advice and support that is most appropriate for your circumstances.
OVO Energy is handing out free blankets and smart sockets to help customers with rising energy bills this winter.
The E.ON Next Energy Fund offers assistance to customers who are experiencing financial hardship and are struggling.
The fund supports people either through grants to help pay energy bills, or through replacing appliances that have broken or are in a poor condition.
What energy bill help is available?
There’s a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you’re struggling to get by.
If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.
This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.
If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don’t think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Several energy firms have schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.
British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You don’t need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.
Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill.
Some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you’re struggling.
Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.
