Who is eligible for the warm home discount? How to get £150 off electricity bills this winter and how to apply – MyCyberBase

The warm home discount scheme was established in 2011 to help low-income households pay their energy bills.

It will be a welcome boost for many as temperatures drop this winter, with the country still grappling with high gas and electricity prices.

What is the warm home discount?

The warm home discount enables eligible people to get £150 off their electricity bill during the winter. The money is not paid to you – it as a one-off discount applied to your electricity bill between early October 2023 and 31 March 2024.

Who is eligible for the warm home discount?

If you live in England and Wales you qualify if you either get the guarantee credit element of pension credit, or are on a low income and have high energy costs.

If you live in Scotland you must either get the guarantee credit element of pension credit, or be on a low income and meet your energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme.

If you get the guarantee element of pension credit

You qualify for the discount if on 13 August 2023 all of the following applied:

If you are on a low income

To qualify through a low income, you must receive one of the following means-tested benefits to get the warm home discount:

• Housing benefit;
• Income-related employment and support allowance (ESA);
• Income-based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA);
• Income support;
• The savings credit part of pension credit;
• Universal credit.

You could also qualify if your household income falls below a certain threshold and you get either:

• Child tax credit;
• Working tax credit.

Your property must also have a high energy cost score for you to be eligible for the scheme. This is not based on the actual energy costs in your energy bill. It is calculated based on your property’s type, age and floor area.

Check if you’re eligible for the discount online here.

You can still qualify for the discount if you use a pre-pay or pay-as-you-go electricity meter. Your electricity supplier can tell you how you’ll get the discount if you’re eligible, for example a voucher you can use to top up your meter.

How do I apply for the warm home discount?

You will usually get the discount automatically if you are eligible. You should only need to apply if you qualify via a low income in Scotland. Contact your energy supplier to apply.

If you are eligible, you should receive a letter between early October 2023 and early January 2024.

Your letter will confirm you do not need to do anything to receive the discount, or ask you to provide more information to ensure you are eligible.

Contact the warm home discount scheme before 29 February 2024 if you do not get the letter by early January 2024 and you think you are eligible.

The helpline number is 0800 030 9322 and is open between 8am and 6pm from Monday to Friday.