Millions of people across the UK who are eligible for the Warm Home Discount will receive £150 credit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) this winter. The credit will automatically be applied to your electricity account later this year if you qualify, though those in Scotland may need to apply directly to their energy supplier.
Scheme Reopens in October
The Warm Home Discount Scheme is currently closed but will reopen in October 2026. If your supplier provides both gas and electricity and you are eligible, you may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead — contact your supplier to find out.
The DWP has confirmed that the Warm Home Discount will not affect your Cold Weather Payment or Winter Fuel Payment.
Eligibility Criteria
If you live in England and Wales, you may be eligible if all of the following applied on August 23 2026: your energy supplier is part of the scheme, you (or your partner) get certain means-tested benefits, and your name (or your partner's) is on the electricity bill.
The qualifying means-tested benefits are Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, and Pension Credit. Eligibility rules will be different for people living in Scotland.
Supplier Changes and Missed Discounts
If the electricity supplier you were with stops trading, you may still be eligible for a Warm Home Discount. Ofgem will appoint your new supplier for you, and you should check with them about eligibility.
If you did not get your discount for winter 2025 to 2026, guidance on Gov.uk says you should contact your electricity supplier if you have confirmation you were eligible for the scheme for that period. You'll have confirmation if you got a letter from the Warm Home Discount Scheme saying you were eligible, or if you were told you were eligible by the Warm Home Discount Scheme helpline. You should write to the Warm Home Discount Scheme if you have confirmation you were eligible but your supplier could not give you the discount.
Participating Suppliers
The following suppliers will be part of the winter 2026 to 2027 scheme: 100Green (formerly Green Energy UK or GEUK), Boost, British Gas, E (Gas and Electricity), Ecotricity, EDF, EnergyCoop (see Octopus Energy), E.ON Next, Fuse Energy, Good Energy, Home Energy, London Power, Octopus Energy, Outfox Energy, OVO, Sainsbury's Energy, Scottish Gas (see British Gas), ScottishPower, So Energy, Square 1 Energy Ltd, TruEnergy, Tulo Energy, Utilita, and Utility Warehouse.
If you're worried about rising energy costs, it's a good idea to check you're claiming all the benefits you're entitled to.
