01 October 2023 , 06:00
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An energy scheme which gives millions of eligible households £150 off their electricity bill is reopening this month.
The Warm Home Discount scheme is available in England, Scotland and Wales, with the money deducted from your electricity bill, rather than cash payment into your energy account. Prepayment customers are normally sent a top-up voucher if they have a traditional meter, while smart meter customers should see the discount automatically applied to their account.
The scheme officially opens on October 16 and the money should be applied by the end of March next year. But not all energy suppliers offer the Warm Home Discount - you can check the full list on the Gov.uk website.
If your supplier is on that list, then you next need to see if you qualify. You should get the payment automatically if you, or your partner, receive the Guarantee Credit portion of Pension Credit - this is known as “core group one”.
You, or your partner, need to have been claiming Pension Credit on the qualifying date, which for this year is August 13. You should also get the discount automatically in England and Wales if you claim certain benefits and have high energy costs.
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Again, the qualifying date for you to have been receiving benefits is August 13. You can check if you're eligible to receive the discount using the Gov.uk Warm Home Discount online tool.
Benefits that qualify you for the Warm Home Discount in England and Wales are:
Housing Benefit
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
Income Support
"Savings Credit" part of Pension Credit
Universal Credit
You could also qualify if your household income falls below a certain threshold and you get:
Child Tax Credit
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Working Tax Credit
If you live in Scotland and you claim benefits, you’ll need to apply for the Warm Home Discount through your supplier under the “broader group” criteria. Your electricity supplier may have extra eligibility criteria, as it is up to them who gets the discount in Scotland.
The Warm Home Discount scheme is not available in Northern Ireland. You should receive a letter telling you about the discount if you’re eligible - last year, these letters were sent out between November and January.
If you think you're eligible and you don't receive a letter by mid-January, you should contact the Warm Home Discount Scheme. You can call the helpline on 0800 107 8002 or write a letter to: 110552 Warm Home Discount Scheme, PO Box 26965, Glasgow, G1 9BW.
The deadline for this winter is February 29, 2024.