Eligible people in Scotland may need to claim this year’s £150 Warm Home Discount.
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The UK Government said it is providing a “vital lifeline” for Scots, with more than 240,000 households north of the border due £150 off their energy bills for the first time this winter through the expansion of the Warm Home Discount Scheme.
More than six million households across Scotland, England and Wales are now eligible for the Warm Home Discount this year, with those in receipt of the Pension Credit Guarantee Credit – which tops up the income of people over State Pension age to a guaranteed minimum level – eligible for it automatically.
While the “vast majority” will get the discount automatically, some people may need to provide extra information to ensure they get the Warm Home Discount. Over 200,000 letters were issued last month to households urging them to call a helpline number, with an electricity bill or statement so they can confirm the bill payer’s name and account number.
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Those in receipt of other means tested benefits such as Universal Credit are being urged to contact their energy supplier to find out how they can apply for the discount.
Under the UK Government’s Plan for Change, 6.1m households will benefit this winter from the £150 discount. This is an increase of 2.7m households, including 900,000 more families with children and a total of 1.8m households in fuel poverty.
The UK Government’s minister for energy consumers, Martin McCluskey, the MP for Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West, recently said: “As temperatures drop across Scotland, people are starting to turn their heating on and it’s essential that people are able to keep warm this winter.
“We are making sure more of those who need it most get £150 off their energy bills this winter – a vital lifeline for Scots as the evenings draw in.”
He added: “In the coming months we will also set out our warm homes plan to deliver energy efficiency upgrades to up to five million homes across the UK.”
Warm Home Discount qualifying benefits
People in England and Wales will qualify for the Warm Home Discount this winter if they are receiving one of the following means-tested benefits and are named on the electricity bill, either in their own name, that of their partner, or their legal representative.
- Housing Benefit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit)
- Universal Credit
For older people in Scotland in receipt of Pension Credit Guarantee Credit and are named on your electricity bill (or your partner or legal representative is), DWP guidance states “you will likely receive the Warm Home Discount automatically”.
Scottish households in receipt of other means-tested benefits will need to apply for the discount directly from their supplier once they open for applications.
Energy suppliers
The following suppliers are part of the scheme:
- 100Green (formerly Green Energy UK or GEUK)
- Affect Energy – see Octopus Energy
- Boost
- British Gas
- Bulb Energy – see Octopus Energy
- Co-op Energy – see Octopus Energy
- E – also known as E (Gas and Electricity)
- Ecotricity
- E.ON Next
- EDF
- Fuse Energy
- Good Energy
- Home Energy
- London Power
- Octopus Energy
- Outfox Energy
- OVO
- Sainsbury’s Energy
- Scottish Gas – see British Gas
- ScottishPower
- Shell Energy Retail
- So Energy
- Square 1 Energy Ltd
- Tomato Energy – no longer trading, but you may still qualify
- TruEnergy
- Tulo Energy
- Utilita
- Utility Warehouse
If your supplier is no longer trading
If the electricity supplier you were with stops trading, you may still be eligible for a Warm Home Discount. Ofgem will appoint your new supplier for you.
Full details on the Warm Home Discount Scheme can be found on GOV.UK.