Prime Minister Andy Burnham has confirmed that a one-off £150 discount for households will be reinstated from October 2026, as part of the Warm Home Discount scheme. The announcement, made exclusively to Birmingham Live, marks the return of the payment after the scheme's closure earlier this year.
Eligibility and Payment Details
The Warm Home Discount provides a £150 discount on electricity bills for eligible households. Recipients must be claimants of certain benefits, including Universal Credit, Pension Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), Housing Benefit, and Income Support. The discount is applied automatically for those on standard credit or smart prepayment meters, while traditional prepayment meter users receive a top-up voucher via post, email, or text, with some receiving a cheque. Vouchers are valid for 90 days and can be reissued if lost or expired.
Government Confirmation and Future Plans
A government spokesperson told Birmingham Live: "The Warm Home Discount Scheme has closed. It will reopen in October 2026." The government has also indicated it will consult on the scheme's future beyond 2026, considering "more substantial changes to improve the design of the scheme beyond the current regulations which expire in 2026."
Participating Energy Suppliers
Major energy suppliers signed up include British Gas/Scottish Gas, E.on Next/Sainsbury's Energy, E (Gas and Electricity), EDF Energy, Fuse Energy, Good Energy, Home Energy, Octopus Energy (including Co-Op Energy), Outfox Energy, Ovo Energy, Scottish Power, So Energy, Tru Energy, Utility Warehouse, and 100Green. However, 100Green only provides the discount to households in the 'core group', meaning applicants cannot apply directly.
