The Warm Home Discount is a one-off payment made to certain households to help with their winter energy bills. This year, the payment is rising from £140 to £150. The other major change this year is that the majority of participants will not have to apply for the funds. Instead, those eligible will be contacted directly in November and December. The scheme opens in November, and eligible households will receive the funds between November 2022 and March 2023.
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Do I qualify for the warm home discount?
The requirements to receive the payment vary across the UK. If you live in England and Wales, you qualify if you either:
– Receive the Guaranteed Credit element of Pension Credit (core group 1)
– Are on a low income and have high energy costs (core group 2)
In Scotland the two qualifying groups are:
– Those who receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit (the core group)
– Those on a low income and who meet their energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme (the broader group)
If you live in Northern Ireland you won’t be able to receive warm home discount, but there is equivalent support available under the Affordable Warmth Scheme.
Which suppliers offer the discount?
The short answer is that every major and many smaller energy companies offer the discount. The longer answer would be that all of the following suppliers participate in the program:
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Affect Energy – see Octopus Energy
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Atlantic – see SSE
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British Gas Evolve (formerly British Gas X) – see British Gas
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Co-op Energy – see Octopus Energy
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Scottish Gas – see British Gas
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Scottish Hydro – see SSE
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Southern Electric – see SSE
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Swalec – see SSE
What if I have a pre-payment meter?
You can still get the warm home discount if you have a pre-payment or pay-as-you-go meter. It’s up to your supplier to decide how to send you your payment, but it often comes in the form of a credit voucher. You can take this to wherever you top up your energy to add £150 credit to your card or key.
How can I claim warm home discount?
This winter, most eligible households will receive the payment automatically. To see who qualifies, the government will look at your circumstances on a specific date, known as the ‘qualifying date’. For 2022-23, this was 21 August 2022.
This is a streamlining of the previous system, where some eligible customers had to apply directly for the payment.
If you are eligible, you’ll be contacted by letter in November or December. Some households will be asked to call a helpline, included in the letter, to confirm their eligibility. Once you’ve received your letter, your payment will be made at the discretion of your energy supplier by March 2023.
If you haven’t received payment by the end of March, or if you have any other questions about the scheme, you should reach out to your energy supplier directly.
Read more about gas and electricity in the UK:
