13 hours Ago By Kieran Isgin
Thousands are at risk of missing out on a crucial £150 discount from next week. The Warm Home Discount scheme, launched by the Government in April 2011, is designed to help those on low incomes or receiving pensions throughout England, Scotland, and Wales with their winter energy costs. The scheme aims to provide necessary support during the colder months.
However, the discount is not automatic and must be applied for, with the deadline for doing this landing on Friday, February 28. It's important to note that applications must be made through one's energy supplier, with the payment being made directly to the provider rather than the claimant. The eligibility criteria for the Warm Home Discount Scheme were updated in 2022, which means some people may no longer qualify, while others may need to apply as they won't automatically receive the discount.
If you're a credit customer, the £150 will be credited to your electricity account, and if you're on Pay As You Go or Prepayment, you'll receive a voucher to top-up your meter. Here's a summary of the scheme and eligibility rules. To be eligible for the £150 credit, you must have been in one of the qualifying scenarios on 11 August 2024.
A detailed guide to eligibility can be found on the GOV.UK website. For those living in England and Wales, qualification also depends on specific conditions.
In both eligibility groups, the DWP will assess your energy costs based on your residence. If you're a recipient of the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, you could be eligible for the Warm Home Discount, provided you received the payment on the qualifying date in August. This is known as being part of the 'core group' in Scotland and 'core group 1' in England and Wales.
While most qualifying households will automatically receive the discount, some may need to apply directly - it's recommended to check with your supplier. A letter will indicate if you need to call a helpline by February 28 to confirm your details. All the energy suppliers participating can be found on GOV.
UK . These include: 100Green (formerly Green Energy UK or GEUK) Affect Energy – see Octopus Energy Boost British Gas Bulb Energy – see Octopus Energy Co-op Energy - see Octopus Energy E - also known as E (Gas and Electricity) Ecotricity E.ON Next EDF Fuse Energy Good Energy Home Energy London Power Octopus Energy Outfox the Market OVO Rebel Energy Sainsbury’s Energy Scottish Gas – see British Gas ScottishPower Shell Energy Retail So Energy Tomato Energy TruEnergy Utilita Utility Warehouse.
