The Warm Home Discount scheme will reopen in October, providing a one-off £150 reduction on energy bills to around six million households across the UK. The discount has been extended, meaning roughly double the number of households now qualify compared to previous years.
Everyone receiving Universal Credit will now get the boost, along with those on other benefits such as Housing Benefit and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). Some of the poorest pensioners, specifically those on the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit, are also eligible for the support.
How the discount is applied
The £150 discount is applied either as an energy credit or as top-up vouchers, depending on how customers pay their bills. The scheme opens in October, although it could be March before everyone receives the discount, as it depends on when energy suppliers decide to apply it. For most households, the discount tends to be applied between November and January.
Energy bills rising by 4%
The help remains much-needed for low-income households after it was confirmed that energy bills would be rising by 4% from October. Energy minister Miatta Fahnbulleh has suggested that the worst-off households could receive more targeted support in the future.
Speaking about the scheme, Fahnbulleh said: "We've got the Warm Home Discount. That is a £150 discount that goes to families who are under the most amount of pressure. So six million families will get that this winter. But we are looking at what targeted support looks like for households that are under pressure."
Impact on low-income households
The extension of the Warm Home Discount means that significantly more households will receive financial help with their energy costs this winter. The scheme is part of broader government efforts to support vulnerable people as energy prices continue to rise.
For eligible households, the discount will provide a crucial buffer against the higher energy bills expected from October, with the timing of the payment depending on individual suppliers' schedules.
