Warm Home Discount — £150 Off Your Winter Electricity Bill

Overview

The Warm Home Discount is a government-backed scheme that knocks a one-off £150 off winter electricity bills for households on qualifying means-tested benefits. For winter 2026/27 your circumstances on 23 August 2026 decide whether you get it — a few minutes of checking now can be worth £150 in the winter.

How to Claim

1. Check you (or your partner) are claiming a qualifying means-tested benefit — including Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, income-related ESA or JSA, Income Support or Tax Credits.
2. Make sure your (or your partner's) name is on the electricity bill on 23 August 2026.
3. Check your electricity supplier is part of the scheme (most large suppliers are).
4. In England and Wales the discount is then applied automatically to your electricity bill between October 2026 and March 2027 — most eligible households get a confirmation letter in the autumn.

Requirements

• You or your partner claim a qualifying means-tested benefit on 23 August 2026
• Your name (or your partner's) is on the electricity account on that date
• Your supplier participates in the scheme

Important Terms

• The £150 is a credit applied to your electricity bill — it isn't paid to you as cash.
• Prepayment meter households get the £150 as a top-up voucher instead.
• In Scotland the scheme works differently and you may need to apply directly to your supplier once applications open.
• Northern Ireland has a separate Affordable Warmth scheme instead.

Tips

• If you're eligible for Pension Credit but haven't claimed it, sorting that out unlocks the Warm Home Discount on top — Pension Credit claims can be backdated 3 months.
• Keep your supplier's contact details handy: if the discount hasn't appeared by January, chase it before the scheme closes for the winter.