The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed the eligibility criteria for this year's £150 Warm Home Discount payments. The discount, available to around six million families this year, provides £150 off electricity bills during the winter months.
Key eligibility requirements
Anyone receiving means-tested benefits is urged by the DWP to ensure they are named on their electricity bill by August 23 to receive the financial help. This is particularly relevant for those who have recently moved house and may not be named on the bill.
The £150 payment is made automatically into eligible people's accounts to help with the rising cost of heating their homes during colder months. Last winter, nearly a million additional families with children received extra support with the cost of living.
Who qualifies
The DWP has confirmed that this winter, in England and Wales, households receiving Housing Benefit, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit, and Universal Credit will be eligible – the same cohort as last winter.
Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh said: "Families will be worried about their energy bills this winter and our focus is on giving them breathing space, as we continue to work to bring down bills." She added: "Almost a million more families with children received the £150 Warm Home Discount last winter, after we expanded scheme."
She also said: "If you know someone who might benefit, please start spreading the word and encourage them to check they are named on their energy bill."
Pre-payment meter customers
Eligible customers on pre-payment meters who use a key or card to top up will also need to ensure their household's account is registered in their name to receive the Warm Home Discount in November.
The official guidance for this year's round of payments, which will reopen in October 2026, is as follows:
If you live in England or Wales, you may be eligible for the discount for winter 2026 to 2027 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.
- Your name (or your partner's) is on the electricity bill.
This is known as being in the 'core group'. The qualifying means-tested benefits are: Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and Pension Credit.
How the discount is applied
The DWP states that your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill automatically. The money is not paid to you. If you did not get your discount for winter 2025 to 2026, you should contact your electricity supplier if both of the following apply: you did not get your discount by March 31, 2026, and you have confirmation you were eligible for the scheme for winter 2025 to 2026.
You'll have confirmation you were eligible if you: got a letter from the Warm Home Discount Scheme saying you were eligible, were told you were eligible by the Warm Home Discount Scheme helpline, or were told you were eligible when you applied to your electricity supplier (if you're on a low income in Scotland).
If your electricity supplier cannot help, the DWP advises you to write to the Warm Home Discount Scheme if you have confirmation you were eligible but your supplier could not give you the discount. More information can be found on the gov.uk website.
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.
