Households eligible for the Warm Home Discount are being reminded that Sunday, August 23, is the qualifying date for the £150 energy bill discount. Around six million households qualify for the support this year, and while most will receive it automatically, an important check is required to avoid missing out.
Who qualifies and how to check
The discount is available to households on means-tested benefits including Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), as well as some low-income pensioners. To receive the discount automatically, energy customers must be named on their electricity account or bill on August 23. This is a step that people sometimes overlook, which can result in them missing out on the payment.
Martin Lewis's Money Saving Expert website warns: "All households in England and Wales receiving a qualifying means-tested benefit should get the discount automatically between October 2026 and March 2027." However, the key condition is that the qualifying person (or their partner or legal representative) must be named on the electricity account or bill on the qualifying date.
Scheme details and changes
The cost-of-living scheme opens again from October. The £150 discount is applied either as energy credit or top-up vouchers, depending on how customers pay their bills. This year, everyone on Universal Credit now qualifies after the support was extended by the Labour government. This means households may receive the discount for the first time, making the check on the name on the bill even more important.
According to Money Saving Expert, eligible households should receive a letter confirming whether they will get the discount automatically or whether they need to provide more information. The website advises caution against scams and suggests contacting the Warm Home Discount helpline when it reopens if there is any uncertainty.
