In 2022, the eligibility parameters for the £150 Warm Home Discount Scheme were revamped, to provide more rebates automatically to low income households in England and Wales. The Government said the annual payments are predominantly directed at those on the lowest incomes who receive means-tested benefits and living in a property estimated to be “relatively high cost to heat”.
The criteria was said to have been updated so as to best identify households at greatest risk of fuel poverty. But Labour MP Marsha De Cordova has now called on the Energy Secretary to expand eligibility, so as to include people in receipt of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
The Battersea MP highlighted findings from Scope’s “Disability Price Tag 2024: Living with the extra cost of disability” report, published last month. In a written response on Monday, Miatta Fahnbulleh, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, said: “The Warm Home Discount Scheme is currently focused to provide support towards those on lowest incomes who receive means-tested benefits and live in a property estimated to be relatively high cost to heat.
“This winter’s scheme was launched today, 14 October, and we expect it again to support over three million households. We are exploring options to improve the design of the scheme beyond the current regulations which expire in 2026.”
Below is a brief overview of this year’s Warm Home Discount Scheme, full details are available on GOV.UK here.
Participating Energy Suppliers
The dedicated Warm Home Discount Scheme pages on GOV.Uk with the list of participating suppliers has now been updated.
Participating energy suppliers:
- 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 the Market
- OVO
- Rebel Energy
- Sainsbury’s Energy
- Scottish Gas – see British Gas
- ScottishPower
- Shell Energy Retail
- So Energy
- Tomato Energy
- TruEnergy
- Utilita
- Utility Warehouse
Do I qualify for the £150 Warm Home Discount?
The guidance for winter 2024/25 has now been updated by DWP on GOV.UK and confirms that the qualifying date for this year’s payment was August 11, 2024.
People living in England and Wales
If you live in England and Wales, you qualify if you either:
- get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit – known as ‘core group 1’
- are on a low income and have high energy costs – known as ‘core group 2’
People living in Scotland
If you live in Scotland, you qualify if you either:
- get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit – known as the ‘core group’
- are on a low income and meet your energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme – known as the ‘broader group’
In both eligibility groups, DWP will make an assessment of your energy costs based on the property you live in. They will then write to you and confirm if you are eligible from November.
The scheme is now open across Great Britain. Most people in England and Wales will receive a letter automatically from the DWP between October and mid-January advising them if they are eligible for the scheme. This letter will confirm whether or not they need to apply for it.
