Thousands of UK households have only two weeks left to claim a £150 discount on their energy bills through the government’s Warm Home Discount Scheme. The deadline to respond to required notifications or apply for the scheme is 28 February 2025, after which eligible individuals may miss out on this financial support.
How the Warm Home Discount Scheme Works
The Warm Home Discount Scheme is a government initiative designed to help low-income households manage energy costs. The £150 discount is not a direct payment but is applied as a reduction on electricity bills through energy suppliers.
For most eligible recipients, the discount is applied automatically. However, some individuals must provide additional information or contact the scheme’s helpline to ensure they receive the benefit. Last winter, 128,000 people had to contact the scheme’s helpline to receive their discount, highlighting the importance of checking eligibility.
So far, 190,000 letters have been sent to households, representing a total of £28.5 million in support already allocated.
Who Is Eligible for the £150 Discount?
The scheme primarily supports low-income households and pensioners. Eligibility is assessed based on government criteria, which include receiving at least one of the following benefits before 11 August 2024 :
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Housing Benefit
- Universal Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- The “savings credit” portion of Pension Credit
Additionally, the government evaluates eligibility based on the type, age, and energy efficiency of a property. This means that some UK households in energy-efficient homes may not qualify for the scheme, even if they receive qualifying benefits.
However, this exclusion does not apply to pensioners who receive the guarantee credit portion of Pension Credit. If pensioners were not claiming Pension Credit before the 11 August 2024 deadline, they may still qualify if they backdate their application for up to three months.
How to check if you qualify
Eligible households should have received a letter between October and December 2024. These letters indicate whether the discount will be applied automatically or if additional information is required.
To confirm eligibility or request the discount, individuals can :
- Call the Warm Home Discount helpline at 0800 030 9322
- Send a letter to Warm Home Discount Scheme, PO Box 14127, Selkirk, TD7 9AH
Households in Scotland must apply directly through their energy supplier, while Northern Ireland residents are not covered by the scheme but may be eligible for separate gas bill support.
How Is the Discount Applied?
The way the Warm Home Discount is applied depends on the type of electricity meter a household has :
- For smart credit or prepayment meters, the discount is applied automatically to the energy bill.
- For traditional prepayment meters (key or card top-ups), the discount is given in the form of vouchers, which must be redeemed at local top-up points.
Vouchers for prepayment meters are issued by the Post Office on behalf of British Gas, E.ON Next, Ovo Energy, EDF Energy, Scottish Power, and Good Energy. The expiry date of these vouchers varies between 30 and 90 days from the date of issue. If a voucher is lost or expired, UK households should contact their supplier for a replacement.
Additional Financial Support for Energy Bills
For those struggling with energy costs, there are additional forms of support available:
- British Gas offers grants of up to £2,000 for customers struggling to pay their bills.
- The British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund provide financial assistance, even for non-British Gas customers.
- EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy, and Scottish Power also offer hardship grants for customers in financial difficulty.
Additionally, vulnerable UK households can register for the Priority Services Register (PSR), which provides :
- Additional support for those struggling with energy costs
- Advance warnings of power cuts
- Free gas safety checks
