What is the Warm Home Discount?
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In short: A £150 discount off your electricity bill between October and March for eligible pensioners and some low-income households. You do not receive cash — the credit is applied to your account by your supplier if you qualify.
Last reviewed:
Reviewed by Kaiser Khan
The Warm Home Discount Scheme gives eligible households a one-off £150 reduction on electricity bills during the winter. It replaced older supplier-specific social tariffs with a single national scheme administered by energy suppliers on behalf of the government.
Most recipients in England and Wales are in Core Group 1 (Pension Credit Guarantee Credit) or Core Group 2 (qualifying means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit, with your name on the electricity bill). From 2025/26 these groups are identified through data matching and the £150 credit is applied automatically — you do not apply to your supplier in England and Wales.
Scotland still operates a broader group for other low-income households, where you must apply to your supplier when applications open. Prepayment meter customers receive the discount as a bill credit or voucher depending on the supplier.
The discount applies to electricity only, not gas, though some suppliers offer an equivalent reduction on dual-fuel accounts. Check eligibility each autumn — rules and supplier participation can change, and you must be with a participating supplier on the qualifying date.
Primary source: gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme
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