Warm Home Discount

The Warm Home Discount is an annual £150 discount on your electricity bill. It's designed for those who find it difficult to meet their winter energy costs.

Scotland's scheme is separate from that in England and Wales. Around three million households are expected to get the payment this winter. The Warm Home Discount isn't available in Northern Ireland.

Read on to find out more about the scheme, how it works, and whether you're eligible for it.

Who gets the Warm Home Discount in England and Wales?

The Warm Home Discount is currently available for two groups of people:

1. Core group 1

If you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, you're in this group. In most cases, your energy supplier will identify you automatically and write to you telling you how to get the discount.

You'll need to be a customer of an energy supplier that is part of the Warm Home Discount scheme. Your name (or your partner's) will need to be on the electricity bill.

2. Core group 2

If you get certain means-tested benefits and live in a property with high heating costs (based on its type, age and floor area) you might qualify in this group. 

You'll also need to be a customer of an energy suppliers that is part of the scheme and your name (or your partner's) must be on the electricity bill.

Each energy supplier has its own eligibility criteria, which are approved by the energy regulator Ofgem, so you should check with your provider to see whether you meet its requirements.

Find out more about Warm Home Discount eligibility and applications at GOV.UK.

You can still get the Warm Home Discount if you have a prepayment meter, also known as pay-as-you-go. 

If you're considering switching energy supplier, check that your new supplier will pay your Warm Home Discount if you're eligible for it before changing provider. Use the list below or ask the supplier. 

Who gets the Warm Home Discount in Scotland?

Two groups of people qualify.

1. Core group

You're in this group if you get the Guarantee Element of Pension Credit, your energy supplier is part of the scheme and your name (or your partner's) is on the electricity bill.

2. Broader group

You might qualify if you are on a low income, get certain means-tested benefits, your energy supplier is part of the scheme, and your name (or your partner's) is on the electricity bill.

Electricity suppliers may also have other criteria. 

You'll need to apply to your electricity supplier for the Warm Home Discount if you think you're in this group.

Is the Warm Home Discount only for pensioners?

No. Energy companies also pay the Warm Home Discount to a broader group of people who have difficulty paying their energy bills. 

If you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit you should qualify. But you might be eligible if you meet other criteria, such as being on a low income or living in a home with high energy costs. 

If you receive Pension Credit, you should be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment too.

How do I get the Warm Home Discount?

Core group 1

If you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, you're in the core group 1 (core group in Scotland). Your energy supplier should identify you automatically and write to you.

You should get the letter between October 2024 and early January 2025. 

The letter might confirm that you'll get the discount automatically and don't need to do anything. 

Or it might ask you to give more information. If so, you'll need to call the helpline (on 0800 030 9322) by 28 February 2025.

Core group 2 or the broader group

If you're in core group 2 in England or Wales you should get a letter between October 2024 and early January 2025. 

It will either tell you that you're eligible, or that you need to give more information. Do this by 28 February 2025.

If you're in the broader group in Scotland, you'll need to apply for the discount with your electricity supplier.  Do so as soon as possible because they can only give a limited number of discounts each year. Even if you were eligible last year, you may still need to reapply.

Prepayment energy meters and park homes

If you have a prepayment meter, your energy company will confirm how you'll get the discount. It might be a voucher you can use to top-up your meter, for example.

If you live in a park home, the process is different. You can apply for the Park Homes Warm Home Discount via Charis.

When will I get my Warm Home Discount?

You should get the discount off your electricity bill by 31 March 2025. You'll need to stay with the same energy supplier until it's paid.

If you haven't heard from your energy supplier about your Warm Home Discount by early January, contact the Warm Home Discount Scheme helpline on 0800 030 9322 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm). 

Claims must be made by the end of February 2025. 

Which energy companies pay the Warm Home Discount?

Large energy companies (with more than 150,000 domestic customers) must pay the Warm Home Discount, and many smaller energy suppliers offer it too.

For Winter 2024/5, these suppliers are part of the scheme.

• 100 Green (formerly GEUK)
• Affect Energy - see Octopus Energy
• Boost
• British Gas
• Co-op Energy - see Octopus Energy
• E (Gas & Electricity)
• Ecotricity
• E.ON Next
• EDF Energy
• Fuse Energy
• Good Energy
• Home Energy
• London Power - see Octopus Energy
• Octopus Energy
• Outfox the Market
• OVO
• Rebel Energy
• Sainsbury’s Energy
• Scottish Gas - see British Gas
• Scottish Power
• Shell Energy - see Octopus
• So Energy
• Tomato Energy
• TruEnergy
• Utilita
• Utility Warehouse

Suppliers with more than 250,000 domestic customers must offer the discount to both the core and broader groups.

You can find out more about these energy suppliers, including what their customers really think of them, by reading our advice on the best energy suppliers. 

If your supplier isn't listed, ask it whether it offers the Warm Home Discount before you switch.

If I switch energy supplier, what happens to my Warm Home Discount?

If you switch away from a supplier that offers the Warm Home Discount to a supplier that doesn't, you'll lose your Warm Home Discount (even if you're in the core group). 

If you qualify for the Warm Home Discount in core group 2/ the broader group with your current supplier and want to switch, check first that you would still qualify with your new supplier.

If my energy supplier closes, what happens to my Warm Home Discount?

If your energy supplier closes, your account will automatically be transferred to a new supplier chosen by Ofgem.

You should continue to get the discount from the new supplier. 

It's unlikely that Ofgem will choose a replacement supplier that is too small to have to pay the Warm Home Discount. It says it takes into account the supplier's ability to make Warm Home Discount payments when it's choosing a replacement company.

You should get the discount automatically. The Department for Work and Pensions works with energy suppliers to identify customers who get Pension Credit and therefore qualify.

Energy companies have different criteria if you're not in the core group and some smaller firms don't make payments to those who don't automatically qualify.

It's important to ask your new supplier if you will qualify as soon as you find out which company you're being moved to, because the number of discounts paid by each supplier to their broader group customers may be limited.

More information on the Warm Home Discount is available from the government's website at Gov.uk.