The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed the return of the Warm Home Discount for the autumn and winter months of 2026, providing an automatic £150 discount on electricity bills for eligible claimants. This one-off payment is designed to help households manage energy costs during colder periods.
According to the Labour Party government website, the DWP stated: "The Warm Home Discount Scheme has closed. It will reopen in October 2026." The scheme offers a £150 discount applied directly to the electricity bill by the supplier, meaning the money is not paid directly to the claimant.
Who is eligible for the Warm Home Discount?
Eligibility is determined by the benefits you receive. You will usually receive the discount automatically if you qualify. Under DWP rules, you qualify if you or your partner are receiving the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit (even if you also receive Savings Credit). This is known as being in ‘core group 1’ in England and Wales, or the ‘core group’ in Scotland.
If you are not on Pension Credit, you may still be eligible if you or your partner receive certain means-tested benefits. This is referred to as ‘core group 2’. The qualifying means-tested benefits include:
- Housing Benefit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- The ‘Savings Credit’ part of Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
Including the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit, this brings the total number of qualifying benefits to seven.
Which energy suppliers are part of the scheme?
The following suppliers are participating in the Warm Home Discount scheme:
- 100Green (formerly Green Energy UK or GEUK)
- Affect Energy – see Octopus Energy
- Boost
- British Gas
- Bulb Energy – see Octopus Energy
- Co-op Energy – see Octopus Energy
- E (Gas and Electricity)
- Ecotricity
- E.ON Next
- EDF
- Fuse Energy
- Good Energy
- Home Energy
- London Power
- Octopus Energy
- Outfox Energy
- OVO
- Sainsbury’s Energy
- Scottish Gas – see British Gas
- ScottishPower
- Shell Energy Retail
- So Energy
- Square 1 Energy Ltd
- Tomato Energy
- TruEnergy
- Tulo Energy
- Utilita
- Utility Warehouse
If your electricity supplier ceases trading, you may still be eligible for the discount. Ofgem will appoint a new supplier, and you should check with them regarding eligibility.
