Millions of low-income households across Britain are set to receive a crucial one-off discount on their electricity bills this winter, as the government's Warm Home Discount Scheme expands significantly.
Expanded Eligibility Reaches More Families
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) scheme provides a £150 discount directly applied to electricity bills. A major rule change for England and Wales this year means an extra 2.7 million households are now eligible. The previous 'hard-to-heat' criterion, which required families to live in energy-inefficient properties, has been removed.
This expansion means that, in total, around six million households in England, Scotland, and Wales will benefit from the support. This includes approximately 900,000 more families with children and a total of 1.8 million households considered to be in fuel poverty.
Who Qualifies and the Crucial Date
Eligibility is linked to receiving specific means-tested benefits on a single, fixed date. To qualify for the £150 payment this winter, you must have been claiming one of the following benefits on August 24, 2025:
- Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit or Savings Credit)
- Universal Credit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- Housing Benefit
If you were not claiming any of these benefits on August 24, 2025, you will not be eligible for this winter's payment. For most eligible households in England and Wales, the discount is applied automatically, with no need to apply.
The 28 Energy Suppliers Participating
The discount is administered through a customer's energy supplier. This winter, 28 energy firms are paying the Warm Home Discount. The full list includes:
- 100 Green (formerly Green Energy UK)
- Affect Energy (acquired by Octopus Energy)
- Boost
- British Gas
- Bulb Energy (acquired by Octopus Energy)
- Co-op Energy (powered by Octopus Energy)
- E (Gas and Electricity)
- Ecotricity
- E.ON Next
- EDF
- Fuse Energy
- Good Energy
- Home Energy
- London Power
- Octopus Energy
- Outfox the Market
- OVO Energy
- Sainsbury’s Energy
- Scottish Gas
- ScottishPower
- Shell Energy Retail
- So Energy
- Square 1 Energy Ltd
- Tomato Energy
- TruEnergy
- Tulo Energy
- Utilita
- Utility Warehouse
The scheme represents a vital financial intervention for vulnerable customers during the coldest months, directly reducing the burden of high energy costs for those on the lowest incomes.
