- England
- Scotland
- Wales
Warm Home Discount
A one-off rebate on the winter electricity bill for low-income and pensioner households, applied by the energy supplier rather than paid in cash.
Overview
Warm Home Discount is a scheme in Great Britain under which participating electricity suppliers apply a fixed rebate to eligible customers' winter electricity bills. It is not paid as cash and is normally credited to the account between October and March each winter. There are two broad eligibility routes. The "Core Group" route covers pensioner households where at least one person is receiving the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit on the qualifying date — these customers should be identified automatically and contacted by their supplier. The second route (sometimes called the "Broader Group" or, in England and Wales, the "low income and high energy costs" group) covers working-age low-income households whose home is assessed as having high heating costs, with eligibility determined automatically by DWP data matching in England and Wales, and through a supplier application process in Scotland. The scheme's availability depends on the customer's electricity supplier participating — most large suppliers do, but some smaller suppliers do not. Individual eligibility and payment are determined by the DWP, the participating supplier, and Scottish administration arrangements depending on the route. This page references criteria from the primary GOV.UK source; the authoritative source for any individual rebate remains your electricity supplier and the relevant scheme operator.
Applies in England, Scotland, Wales. Administered by Energy Suppliers. This page is general information; contact Energy Suppliers for your individual circumstances.
How this page was verified
- Checked against 1 primary source from Energy Suppliers and linked source records on this page.
- Last verified on .
- Reviewed by Due to You editorial review under the editorial policy and methodology.
How the amount is calculated
The Warm Home Discount is a one-off £150 rebate applied to your electricity bill each winter — not paid in cash, not a loan, not tapered. It's administered by energy suppliers in England and Wales under government rules, and delivered by the Scottish Government directly in Scotland. The rules changed meaningfully in 2022, replacing the Core and Broader groups with an automated system based on benefits data and property characteristics.
The amount
£150 rebate applied to your electricity account between October and March each winter. Applied as a credit, not a cash payment — it reduces your bill or your direct debit, depending on your supplier's mechanics. Not taxable, not counted as income for any other benefit.
England and Wales — automatic for most eligible households
Since winter 2022-23, most eligible households receive the discount automatically — no application needed. The government cross-matches data held by DWP (benefits), HMRC (income), and Valuation Office Agency (property characteristics) to identify households in fuel poverty. You qualify if:
- You receive a qualifying benefit. The list is broad: Guarantee element of Pension Credit; Income-based JSA; Income-related ESA; Income Support; Universal Credit; Housing Benefit; Child Tax Credit; Working Tax Credit.
- Your home has "high energy costs" — determined automatically by looking at the property type, age, and size on VOA records. This is the new rule that tightened eligibility: some households who used to qualify through the Broader Group now don't, if their property doesn't score as high-energy-cost.
If the automatic check finds you eligible, you get a letter between October and December confirming the rebate will be applied. If you think you should qualify but haven't been contacted by mid-January, call the Warm Home Discount helpline (0800 107 8002).
The Core Group (guaranteed auto-award)
Households on Pension Credit Guarantee Credit get the discount automatically regardless of the property high-energy-cost test. This is the Core Group 1, administered by DWP.
Scotland — still application-based in many cases
Scotland runs a separate Warm Home Discount scheme. Pension Credit Guarantee Credit recipients get the discount automatically (Core Group). Other low-income households can apply directly to their electricity supplier — the Broader Group remains in Scotland. Each supplier sets its own eligibility rules within the Scottish scheme framework, so eligibility criteria may vary by supplier.
Supplier participation
Most large suppliers participate. If yours doesn't, you cannot get the discount through that supplier — but you can switch to a participating one. Check the government's list of participating suppliers each autumn before the scheme opens.
What else your circumstances unlock
Eligibility for WHD often indicates eligibility for other cold-weather or cost-of-living support: Cold Weather Payments (England, Wales, and Northern Ireland), Household Support Fund discretionary grants from your council, and energy-supplier hardship funds.
Worked examples
Illustrative scenarios with plausible household compositions. Figures are rounded for readability; run the triage or a calculator for a personal estimate.
Pensioner couple on Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
Mo and Sara, 78 and 74, on Pension Credit Guarantee Credit. Electricity account in Mo's name with a major supplier.
Automatic Core Group award. DWP writes to Mo in October-November confirming entitlement. The £150 is applied as a credit to the electricity account between then and March. No application needed.
If Mo switched suppliers in August (before the scheme year), the award lands with the new supplier automatically, assuming the new supplier is in the scheme. If Mo switched in January, mid-scheme, the award for that winter could be complicated — sticking with the current supplier through March is the safest play.
Working-age UC household, low income, eligible property
Chris, 42, UC claimant due to limited capability for work. Rents an older Victorian terrace in a cold, large property. Benefit in Chris's name, electricity account in partner Alex's name.
The government's automatic check matches by household, not by account holder. If the VOA records show a high-energy-cost property and the household is on UC with low income, the automatic letter arrives in Chris or Alex's name depending on the data match. Either way, the £150 is applied to the electricity account.
If the letter never arrives but the household appears eligible, they should call the WHD helpline to ask for a manual check. Provide benefit claim references, property address, and electricity account details.
Common mistakes that cost claimants money
Assuming you'll be notified automatically when you won't be
The automatic system works for most eligible households — but not all. Households who moved recently, households where the VOA record is out of date, and households on lesser-known combinations of benefits sometimes slip through. If you think you qualify and haven't been contacted by mid-January, call the helpline — they can run a manual check.
Switching supplier mid-scheme and losing the discount
If you switch your electricity supplier after the scheme has identified you but before the rebate has been applied, you may lose it for that winter. Wait for the credit to apply (usually March at the latest) before switching.
Not realising your partner is the WHD-eligible account holder
The rebate is applied to the electricity account in the name of the eligible person. If the benefit is claimed in one partner's name and the electricity account is in the other's, the match can fail. Put the electricity account in the name of the benefit claimant if practical.
Missing the high-energy-cost property test
Under the new rules, some low-income households in small, modern, efficient homes don't qualify automatically because the property doesn't score as high energy cost. There's a government dispute-resolution route if you think the VOA data is wrong — e.g. the property is larger or older than VOA records show. Worth pursuing if you know the property characteristics are mis-recorded.
Assuming prepay meter users don't qualify
They do. The rebate for prepay-meter customers is applied as a credit on the meter, or via a voucher issued by the supplier. The mechanics are different but the amount is the same.
What to have ready before you apply
- Most households don't need to apply — just wait for the automatic letter between October and December.
- Electricity account number and supplier name.
- National Insurance number of the benefit claimant.
- Current address and, if you've moved recently, the date you moved.
- Name on the electricity account — if different from the benefit claimant, consider changing.
- Benefit award letter (UC, Pension Credit, ESA, Child Tax Credit, etc.) if you end up needing to apply manually.
- Scottish claimants: check with your electricity supplier directly for their Broader Group application window (usually opens in October).
- If switching supplier: hold off until the WHD credit has been applied for the current winter.
Rates
| Rate | Amount | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warm Home Discount | £150 | ONE OFF | [GOV.UK] |
Eligibility criteria include
- RESIDENCEEligibility criteria differ depending on whether the claimant lives in England and Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland (scheme not available in Northern Ireland). [GOV.UK]
- OTHERIn England and Wales, you qualify if you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit or are on a low income. [GOV.UK]
- OTHERIn Scotland, you qualify if you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit or are on a low income in Scotland and meet your energy supplier's criteria for the scheme. [GOV.UK]
- RESIDENCEThe Warm Home Discount scheme is not available in Northern Ireland. [GOV.UK]
- HOUSING STATUSClaimants using a pre-pay or pay-as-you-go electricity meter can still qualify for the discount. [GOV.UK]
- HOUSING STATUSPark (mobile) home residents apply via a different process. [GOV.UK]