The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that more than 6 million households across Great Britain will receive a £150 energy bill discount this winter under the Warm Home Discount scheme for 2025/26. The majority of eligible households will have the payment applied automatically, based on existing records, without needing to apply.
Details about eligibility, payment schedules, and supplier responsibilities have been outlined by the government and reported by BirminghamLive. The annual rebate is administered through electricity suppliers and is intended to support qualifying customers during the colder months. Further updates are expected to be released through official channels in the coming weeks.
Expanded Eligibility for 2025/26 Winter Season
An additional 2.7 million households are being added to the Warm Home Discount eligibility list, taking the total number of beneficiaries to over 6 million. This one-off £150 rebate will appear directly on the electricity bill of eligible consumers and is designed to ease the burden of winter energy costs for low-income households.
According to the DWP, most eligible customers in England and Wales will not need to take any action, as the rebate will be issued automatically based on benefit records and billing data.
Eligibility Criteria in England and Wales
To qualify under the scheme for 2025/26, residents in England and Wales must meet both administrative and financial criteria, which are defined by the government and verified through existing benefit records. These include the following:
- Be the named billpayer on the energy account
- Receive at least one of the following means-tested benefits:
- Housing Benefit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit, as assessed by the DWP
If these conditions are met, the electricity supplier will apply the discount automatically.
How the Scheme Works in Scotland
The process differs in Scotland, where energy suppliers set their own eligibility rules for the Warm Home Discount, subject to regulatory approval. As stated by the government:
Although the government sets minimum eligibility criteria in regulations, energy suppliers in Scotland may set additional criteria, subject to approval by the scheme administrator, Ofgem.
Most Scottish residents must contact their energy supplier directly to confirm eligibility and apply. An exception exists for customers receiving Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, who are likely to receive the discount automatically.
In certain cases, eligible Scottish households may receive a letter instructing them to call the Warm Home Discount helpline to confirm eligibility.
When and How Letters Will Be Sent
The government has outlined a clear communication timeline for notifying eligible households about their status under the Warm Home Discount scheme, specifying when letters will be issued and what steps to take if no notification is received:
Letters start to be sent from mid October, but can be received up to December.
If no letter is received by January, and the rebate has not appeared in the energy account, households are advised to contact the helpline.
If you haven’t received a letter by January, or received the rebate directly into your energy account but think you meet the criteria, you should call the Warm Home Discount helpline.
Where to Find Support
The contact number for the Warm Home Discount helpline has not yet been published. According to the DWP:
The number will be available on gov.uk when the helpline opens in late October.
A list of participating energy suppliers for the 2025/26 season will also be made available at that time on gov.uk.
Preparing for Winter Energy Support
The Warm Home Discount remains one of the UK government’s central tools to reduce winter fuel stress for lower-income families and pensioners. While the process is largely automatic in England and Wales, those in Scotland should act early to confirm eligibility with their provider.
Households across Great Britain are advised to watch for official letters between October and December and to follow up in January if they have not been contacted and believe they qualify.
