Households receiving Universal Credit, Pension Credit, or Employment Support Allowance (ESA) have less than two weeks to ensure their name appears on their energy bill, or they risk missing out on the £150 Warm Home Discount. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has set a qualifying date of August 23, 2026, by which time claimants must be registered as the bill payer.
Who is eligible and how the discount works
The Warm Home Discount is a one-off reduction on electricity bills, administered during the winter months when temperatures drop across the country. Under the DWP scheme, energy suppliers – including major firms such as British Gas, EDF, EON, OVO, and Octopus – provide the discount to eligible customers. Those receiving income-related ESA, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, or Universal Credit are among those who qualify.
Eligible households should receive the discount automatically, provided their supplier has more than 1,000 customers. However, the crucial requirement is that the claimant's name must be on the electricity account as of Sunday, August 23. Suppliers will use customer records from that date to determine eligibility.
Government and experts urge action
Labour Party Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh has encouraged people to check their energy bills. "If you know someone who might benefit, please start spreading the word and encourage them to check they are named on their energy bill," she said earlier this week.
Financial expert Martin Lewis, known for his work with the BBC and ITV, explained how the discount is applied. "How you get the discount depends on how you pay for your electricity. However you pay, the £150 will almost always be a discount on your bill, not a cash payment," he said. For those on standard credit or smart prepayment meters, the £150 should be automatically added as credit to their electricity account between October 2026 and March 2027, as long as they were named on the account by the qualifying date.
Prepayment meter customers and next steps
For those on traditional prepayment meters, Lewis noted that they should receive a top-up voucher by post, email, or text, though some may receive a cheque. The voucher must be redeemed within 90 days, but suppliers can reissue it if it is lost or expires.
With the August 23 deadline approaching, claimants are advised to contact their energy supplier promptly if they are not named on their bill. Failure to act could mean losing the £150 discount, which provides vital support during the colder months.
