Warm Home Discount Scheme 2024 | Check Your Eligibility + How To Apply

The Warm Home Discount is a one-time payment of £150 to help older adults and low-income individuals with their winter energy bills. The scheme was updated for the winter of 2022/2023, so you might be now even if you weren’t eligible before.

Warm Home Discount Scheme 2024

Introduced by the government in April 2011, the Warm Home Discount helps eligible customers in England, Wales, and Scotland pay their winter energy bills. This £150 discount is automatically applied to your electricity bill.

• Target Group: People receiving state pensions or on low income.
• Requirement: Your energy supplier must participate in the scheme.

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How Much Does the Warm Home Discount Pay?

For the winter of 2023 to 2024, the Warm Home Discount was £150. This amount is deducted from your electricity bill between October 2023 and March 2024.

• Dual-Fuel Customers: If your supplier provides both gas and electricity, you might get the discount on your gas bill.
• Prepayment Meters: If you use a prepayment or pay-as-you-go meter, you’ll likely receive a £150 top-up voucher.

Eligibility for the Warm Home Discount

Eligibility changed in April 2022. Now, you’ll be classified into either the ‘core group’ or the ‘broader group’ (in Scotland).

• Core Group: Claim the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit.
• Broader Group: Receive a different qualifying benefit and be registered with a participating energy supplier.

If you disagree with your eligibility decision, contact the Warm Home Discount helpline at 0800 107 8002.

Eligibility in England and Wales

• Core Group 1:
  • Receive Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit.
  • Named on the energy bill.
  • Energy supplier participates in the scheme.
• Core Group 2:
  • Receive one of the following benefits:
    • Child Tax Credits or Working Tax Credits
    • Housing Benefit
    • Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
    • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
    • Income Support
    • Savings Credit part of Pension Credit
    • Universal Credit

Eligibility in Scotland

• Core Group:
  • Receive Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit.
  • Named on the energy bill.
  • Energy supplier participates in the scheme.
• Broader Group:
  • Live in a low-income household without receiving Pension Credit.
  • Responsible for a child under five, have a disability, or have a disabled child.
  • Receive one of the following benefits:
    • Income Support
    • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
    • Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
    • Universal Credit (earnings less than £1,418 a month)
    • Child Tax Credits (earnings less than £17,005 a year)
  • Energy supplier participates in the scheme.

Pre-pay or Pay-as-you-go Meters

People using pre-payment or pay-as-you-go electricity meters can qualify for the scheme. Contact your electricity supplier to see if you’re eligible and how to get the discount. You may receive a voucher to top up your meter.

How To Claim the Warm Home Discount

• Core Group 1 or 2 in England or Wales, Core Group in Scotland: No need to apply; the discount is automatically applied to your electricity bill.
• Broader Group in Scotland: You need to apply. Contact your energy company to find out when applications open. Apply early as there may be more applicants than places.

Call the Warm Home Discount phone line at 0800 107 8002 to check eligibility.

Living in a Park (Mobile) Home

More than 250,000 individuals in the UK, predominantly elderly people, reside in park homes. Park homes are separate bungalow-style residences located within private estates. Park home residents follow a slightly different application process for the Warm Home Discount scheme.

When Is the Warm Home Discount Available?

The scheme opens once a year in either September or October and runs until the end of March the following year.

Energy Suppliers Offering the Warm Home Discount Scheme

Initially, energy suppliers with over 250,000 customers were required to offer the Warm Home Discount. This threshold was lowered to 150,000 in 2020, and some smaller suppliers voluntarily offer the scheme.

Participating Energy Suppliers for 2022/2023:

Supplier-Specific Warm Home Discount Information

British Gas

• Monthly Direct Debit or Bill Payment: The discount was added as credit to your electricity account and appeared as a ‘Warm Home Discount’ on your bill.
• Online Payment or Pay-as-you-go Meter: Eligible customers received a Post Office voucher with instructions on how to claim the credit.

EDF

• Credit Meter: The discount was credited directly to your account.
• Prepayment Meter: A voucher was issued with instructions on how to redeem it.
• Smart Pay-as-you-go Meter: The discount was directly credited to your meter.

E.ON

• Electricity Account: The Warm Home Discount was credited between November 2023 and March 2024.
• Prepayment Meter: Customers received a top-up voucher that could be redeemed.

Shell

• Additional Credit: Shell provided an extra £150 credit to eligible customers in England, Wales, and Scotland for the winter of 2023/2024, totaling £300.

SSE

• England and Wales: No application needed; the discount was automatically applied.
• Scottish Broader Group: Successful applicants received their discount before March 31, 2023.

Utilita

• England and Wales: No application needed; the government informed Utilita of eligible households, and payments were made automatically.
• 2023/2024 Payments: Expected to be sent between December 2023 and February 2024.

Switching Suppliers and Eligibility

Switching energy suppliers can affect your eligibility for the Warm Home Discount, as not all suppliers offer it. Check the rules of the new supplier before switching, especially if you haven’t yet received the discount.

Other Energy Discount Schemes

• Cold Weather Payment: £25 for every seven consecutive days with temperatures at or below 0°C. Aimed at those receiving Pension Credit or other means-tested benefits.
• Winter Fuel Allowance: Annual payment for those born on or before September 25, 1957. The amount depends on personal circumstances.
• £900 Cost of Living Payments: Tax-free payments to help with living costs, broken down into £301, £300, and £299 payments.

Warm Home Discount in Care Homes

Residents of care homes cannot claim the Warm Home Discount as eligibility is linked to the energy provider, and bills are usually covered by the home. Similarly, care home residents claiming Pension Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance cannot claim a Winter Fuel Payment.

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