One of the more generous changes to household energy support in years went almost unnoticed. From winter 2025/26 the government expanded the Warm Home Discount so that every billpayer on a qualifying means-tested benefit in England and Wales now gets the £150 rebate — regardless of how energy-efficient their home is. The change scrapped the old “high cost to heat” test that previously excluded many low-income households, and widened the scheme to an estimated around 6 million households across Great Britain — roughly 2.7 million more than before. That expanded, simplified eligibility carries forward into winter 2026/27, with the rebate confirmed at £150 again.
If you are on a means-tested benefit, there is a good chance you now qualify automatically. This guide explains who is eligible, how the £150 reaches you, the deadlines, how to check, and the other winter support you can claim on top.
What is the Warm Home Discount?
The Warm Home Discount is a one-off £150 rebate on your electricity bill over the winter. It is not a cash payment and you do not have to pay it back. For most people it is applied automatically as a credit to their electricity account; prepayment meter customers usually receive it as a voucher to top up. For the 2025/26 scheme, suppliers had to apply the rebate by the end of March 2026, and the 2026/27 scheme follows the same autumn-to-March rhythm.
| Detail | Warm Home Discount (England & Wales) |
|---|---|
| Value | £150 per eligible household |
| How it is paid | Credit to electricity account, or prepayment voucher |
| Payment window | Roughly autumn to end of March each winter |
| Who qualifies | All billpayers on a qualifying means-tested benefit |
| Key change (from 2025/26) | “High cost to heat” property test removed |
| Estimated reach | ~6 million GB households (up ~2.7 million) |
The big change: a much wider net
Previously, even if you were on a low income, you could be refused the discount because your home was judged not expensive enough to heat. That property-based test has been removed for England and Wales. Now, eligibility rests simply on receiving a qualifying means-tested benefit on the scheme’s qualifying date (24 August 2025 for the 2025/26 scheme). The reform is expected to bring around 2.7 million additional households into the scheme, including roughly 300,000 in Wales. The chart below shows the jump in the number of households the scheme reaches.
Which benefits qualify?
In England and Wales, you should qualify if you (or your partner) receive one of the following qualifying means-tested benefits and are named as the electricity billpayer on the scheme’s qualifying date. The table separates the automatic “core” route from the wider group brought in by the reform.
| Group | Qualifying benefit / circumstance | How you get it |
|---|---|---|
| Core Group (pensioners) | Pension Credit Guarantee Credit | Automatic — no application |
| Broader Group (working age & low income) | Universal Credit | Automatic (data-matched) |
| Broader Group | Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) | Automatic (data-matched) |
| Broader Group | Income-related Employment & Support Allowance (ESA) | Automatic (data-matched) |
| Broader Group | Income Support | Automatic (data-matched) |
| Broader Group | Housing Benefit | Automatic (data-matched) |
| Broader Group | Child Tax Credit / Working Tax Credit | Automatic (data-matched) |
| Broader Group | Pension Credit Savings Credit | Automatic (data-matched) |
Scotland runs its own version of the scheme with a Core Group (mainly Pension Credit Guarantee Credit recipients, paid automatically) and a Broader Group that you generally need to apply for through your supplier — and which can close once the supplier’s funding runs out. Scottish households should therefore check directly with their energy provider as soon as the scheme opens in autumn, rather than assuming it is automatic.
Do you need to apply?
For most eligible households in England and Wales, the discount is automatic — the government matches benefit records with energy supplier data and the credit is applied without you doing anything. Most eligible households receive a letter between roughly November and January confirming the discount; some letters ask you to call a helpline by a stated deadline to confirm details (for the 2025/26 scheme the helpline cut-off was 28 February 2026). If you get such a letter, act on it promptly, or you risk missing the £150.
How to check whether you will get it
- Confirm you (or your partner) were receiving a qualifying means-tested benefit on the scheme’s qualifying date.
- Make sure your name is on the electricity bill — the rebate follows the billpayer, not the address.
- Check your energy supplier participates in the scheme; nearly all large and medium suppliers must, but some very small ones are exempt.
- Watch for the confirmation letter from roughly November onwards, and respond to any request to verify details.
- If you have heard nothing by mid-January and believe you qualify, call the Warm Home Discount helpline on 0800 030 9322 and contact your supplier.
You can check the official eligibility rules and current deadlines on GOV.UK: The Warm Home Discount Scheme.
How we approached this guide
Energy support rules change often and are easy to get wrong, so every figure here is drawn from official sources: GOV.UK’s Warm Home Discount pages, the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) consultation and impact assessment, the House of Commons Library briefing, and Ofgem. Where exact dates differ year to year — qualifying dates, letter windows and helpline deadlines — we have flagged the 2025/26 specifics and noted that the 2026/27 scheme follows the same pattern but you should confirm the current year’s dates before relying on them. We do not invent precise numbers; eligibility totals are government estimates and can move.
Other help to stack on top
The Warm Home Discount is not the only support available, and you can usually claim more than one scheme at once:
- Cold Weather Payment — £25 for each seven-day spell when the average temperature in your area is at or below 0°C. It is paid automatically to people on certain income-related benefits.
- Winter Fuel Payment — for winter 2025/26 this was restored to everyone over State Pension age with an income of £35,000 or less, worth £200 per household (or £300 where someone is aged 80 or over). Anyone with income above £35,000 has the payment recovered automatically by HMRC through PAYE or Self Assessment.
- Energy supplier hardship funds and grants — several suppliers run trust funds or grant schemes that can clear arrears or replace a broken boiler.
- Priority Services Register — free extra support for pensioners and vulnerable customers, including advance notice of outages.
The £150 in context: typical winter energy costs
The rebate is welcome, but it is a fraction of a typical winter energy bill, so it pays to combine it with being on the right tariff. The chart below puts the £150 alongside rough seasonal energy spend for an average household.
Cut your energy bill further
£150 helps, but the bigger savings usually come from being on the right tariff and not overpaying through inertia. Make sure your direct debit reflects your actual usage, submit regular meter readings, and compare your unit rates against the latest fixed deals — switching or fixing at the right moment can save more than the discount itself.
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Frequently asked questions
How much is the Warm Home Discount?
It is a £150 rebate on your electricity bill, confirmed at £150 for both the 2025/26 and 2026/27 schemes. It is applied automatically for most eligible households, usually as a credit to your account, or as a voucher for prepayment meter customers.
Who is eligible for the Warm Home Discount now?
In England and Wales, all billpayers receiving a qualifying means-tested benefit — such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, income-based JSA or ESA, Income Support, Housing Benefit or tax credits — now qualify, regardless of their home’s energy efficiency, after the “high cost to heat” test was removed from winter 2025/26.
Do I need to apply for the Warm Home Discount?
Usually not in England and Wales — it is paid automatically by matching benefit and supplier records. Some households get a letter asking them to confirm details by a deadline; if you receive one, respond promptly. Scotland’s Broader Group normally requires an application through your supplier, and it can close once funding runs out.
When is the Warm Home Discount paid?
Each year’s rebate is applied between roughly autumn and the end of March; for the 2025/26 scheme suppliers had to pay it by 31 March 2026. If you have not received it or heard from your supplier by mid-winter and believe you qualify, contact your electricity supplier and the scheme helpline on 0800 030 9322.
Can I get the Warm Home Discount and Winter Fuel Payment?
Yes. The Warm Home Discount can be received alongside other support such as the Winter Fuel Payment (restored for 2025/26 to those over State Pension age with income of £35,000 or less) and Cold Weather Payments, provided you meet each scheme’s separate eligibility rules.
Last reviewed: June 2026.
This article is general information, not financial advice. Eligibility rules, amounts and deadlines change — always check GOV.UK and your energy supplier for the latest details before acting.