Need to know
Millions of families will receive the Warm Home Discount every winter for the rest of the decade after it was confirmed the scheme is being expanded until 2030/31
Warm Home Discount is being extended(Image: SimpleImages via Getty Images)
What you need to know as Warm Home Discount scheme expanded
- Millions of families will receive the Warm Home Discount every winter for the rest of the decade after it was confirmed the scheme is being expanded until 2030/31.
- The Warm Home Discount scheme gives you £150 directly off your electricity bill, with the payment sent to your energy supplier, as opposed to your bank account.
- The discount is normally applied between late October and March, to cover the cold winter months. The majority of people should receive it automatically.
- The Warm Home Discount is for households where someone was claiming one of the following benefits on the qualifying date, which changes every year. For this year, the qualifying date is August 24.
- You must have been claiming one of these benefits on this date to get the Warm Home Discount this year: Guaranteed credit element of Pension Credit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Housing Benefit, Universal Credit, ‘Savings Credit’ part of Pension Credit
- If you live in England or Wales, you will receive the Warm Home Discount automatically. This means you should not need to apply for it.
- If you live in Scotland, the payment is only automatic if you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit. For the other benefits listed above, you will need to contact your energy supplier. There is no Warm Home Discount scheme in Northern Ireland.
- Energy bills have just gone up again, with the Ofgem price cap rising from £1,755 to £1,758 for a typical dual fuel household paying by direct debit.
- Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “Tackling the affordability crisis is the Government’s number one priority. That is why we are today confirming to millions of eligible families across the country that they will receive the £150 Warm Home Discount every winter for the rest of the decade.“
- Ned Hammond, deputy director of customer policy at Energy UK – which represents firms, said: “It’s very good news to see confirmation that the Warm Home Discount will be in place until the end of the decade which, particularly with the recent expansion, will provide continuing vital support with energy bills to millions of customers.“
- Matt Copeland, head of policy and public affairs at National Energy Action, said: “The five-year continuation of the Warm Home Discount is welcome news for low-income households and provides support that extends beyond this parliament.“
- Read the full story: Families given £150 in major cost of living boost