Brits eligible for the Warm Home Discount this winter have just one week to check their energy accounts to avoid missing out. The discount is worth £150 and is applied directly to your energy bill.
You could be eligible if you receive certain means-tested benefits, like Universal Credit, Pension Credit, or Housing Benefit. This year, six million households are expected to receive it. To get it, though, your name must be on the electricity bill by Sunday, August 23.
Eligibility for the Warm Home Discount
People who live in England and Wales can qualify if they have an account with one of 24 participating electricity suppliers and all of the following apply: You (or your partner) get certain means-tested benefits, and your name (or your partner’s) is on the electricity bill.
According to the Government website, this is known as the "core" group. The qualifying means-tested benefits are: Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and Pension Credit. To be eligible for this year’s payment, people must be claiming one of these benefits on Sunday, August 23, 2026.
Warm Home Discount rules for Scotland
For those living in Scotland, you may be eligible if all of the following apply 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.
For some qualifying benefits, you’ll get the discount automatically. For others, you will need to apply directly to your energy supplier. You’ll get the discount automatically if you or your partner get Pension Credit, get an extra amount of Universal Credit because you or your child has a disability or health condition, get a disability premium or a pensioner premium of income-related Employment Support Allowance, or get a disability premium or a pensioner premium and have a Support for Mortgage Interest loan.
You’ll also get the discount automatically if you or your partner has responsibility for a child under five who normally lives with you, and you are unemployed and get Universal Credit, get Income-related Employment Support Allowance, or have a Support for Mortgage Interest loan.
When people in Scotland need to apply for the discount
If you do not get the discount automatically, you’ll need to apply directly to your energy supplier. Your electricity supplier may have extra eligibility criteria. They’ll also tell you which benefits mean you are eligible.
The following 24 energy 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 your electricity supplier stops trading, you may still be eligible for the discount. A statement on GOV.UK reads: “Ofgem will appoint a new supplier for you. Check with your new supplier if you’re eligible for the discount.”
