State pensioners urged to make phone call for £150 boost in January

State pensioners across the UK are urged to make a phone call for a £150 boost in January. The boost comes as part of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s (DESNZ) Warm Home Discount Scheme, which provides eligible households a one-off £150 discount off their electricity bills this winter.

Those who qualify will see the discount applied to their bill automatically by their energy supplier, rather than the money being paid into their bank account. There are different ways to qualify for the scheme depending on where you live, but it is available to households in England, Wales and Scotland.

State pensioners will qualify for the £150 discount if they are the named bill payer on their energy bill and receive Pension Credit. Other households can also qualify for the discount if they are in receipt of any of the following means-tested benefits:

Housing Benefit
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
Income Support
Pension Credit
Universal Credit

If you live in England or Wales, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill automatically. If you live in Scotland, energy suppliers set the criteria for the scheme so households should contact their supplier to check if they are eligible.

Those who qualify should receive a letter confirming their eligibility for the scheme between late October 2025 and early January 2026.

Eligible pensioners who haven’t received a letter by early January are urged to call the Warm Home Discount Scheme before February 28 to claim the discount.

The DESNZ said: “Contact the Warm Home Discount Scheme if you do not get a letter by early January 2026 and you think you’re eligible. You must contact them before 28 February 2026.

“If you live in Scotland and applied directly to your energy supplier, you will not get a letter from the Warm Home Discount Scheme. Contact your energy supplier instead.

“Warm Home Discount Scheme helpline telephone: 0800 030 9322. Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 229 4325.”

Pensioners in England and Wales who are eligible see the discount applied to bills by March 31, 2026, and do not need to do anything if you have received a letter. If you need to give more information, your letter will tell you to call the helpline by February 28, 2026, to confirm your details.

In Scotland, pensioners cannot apply for the discount by contacting the Warm Home Discount Scheme, you must instead contact your electricity supplier to check your eligibility and how to apply. If you qualify, the discount will be applied to your bill by March 31, 2026.

The following energy suppliers are all part of the scheme: