The Warm Home Discount is a one-off £150 discount off your winter electricity bill, applied by your energy supplier rather than paid to you as cash. In England and Wales for winter 2026 to 2027, you qualify if on 23 August 2026 you or your partner received Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Pension Credit, your name or your partner’s was on the electricity bill, and your supplier is part of the scheme. Most eligible households get it automatically, and suppliers should apply it by 31 March 2027.
If you are reading this in mid-January, letters should already have gone out. Here is how to check whether you qualify, what the letter means, and what to do if nothing has arrived.
Key takeaways
- The discount is £150, taken off your electricity bill. Prepayment customers usually get it as a top-up voucher or credit, as explained by their supplier.
- The qualifying date for England and Wales was 23 August 2026, and the qualifying benefits are Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, income-related ESA and Pension Credit.
- Letters were due between late October 2026 and early January 2027. If you have had no letter by early January, contact the Warm Home Discount Scheme.
- If your letter asks for more information, you must call the helpline by 26 February 2027.
- It does not affect your Cold Weather Payment or Winter Fuel Payment.
What is the Warm Home Discount?
The Warm Home Discount is a government scheme delivered through energy suppliers. According to GOV.UK, it is a one-off £150 discount on your electricity bill. The supplier applies it to your account, so you see it as a credit rather than receiving money in your bank.
A few practical points:
- Prepayment meters: you can still qualify. Your supplier will tell you how you receive it, for example as a voucher to top up your meter.
- Gas bills: if the same supplier provides your gas and electricity, you may be able to have the discount applied to your gas bill instead. Ask your supplier.
- Park homes: there is a separate application process.
- Northern Ireland: the scheme is not available, though other support exists there.
Warm Home Discount eligibility in England and Wales
The GOV.UK eligibility page for England and Wales sets three conditions, all of which must have been true on 23 August 2026.
| Condition | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Your supplier is part of the scheme | Not every supplier is in the scheme. If you are unsure, ask your supplier directly. |
| You or your partner received a qualifying benefit | Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, income-related ESA or Pension Credit |
| Your name, or your partner’s, is on the electricity bill | If the bill is in a landlord’s or a former occupier’s name, you may miss out |
Common reasons people miss out
- The bill is in someone else’s name. This is common for tenants whose landlord pays the electricity, or for couples where the bill is in the name of someone who has since moved out.
- You changed supplier around the qualifying date, or your supplier is not in the scheme.
- Your benefit started after 23 August 2026. The date matters, so a claim that began later may not count this winter.
- Your details do not match between your benefit records and your energy account, for example a different address format or name spelling.
How the Warm Home Discount is paid, and when
For 2026 to 2027 in England and Wales, the process works like this:
- Identification. The scheme identifies households that look eligible from the qualifying date information.
- Letters. Between late October 2026 and early January 2027, eligible households and people who might be eligible are sent a letter.
- If your letter says you qualify, you do not need to do anything. Your supplier applies the discount.
- If your letter asks for more information, you must call the helpline by 26 February 2027 to confirm your details.
- Payment. Your supplier should apply the £150 to your bill by 31 March 2027.
Keep an eye on your online account or next statement for a credit marked as the Warm Home Discount.
What to do if you have not had a letter
GOV.UK says that if you have not received a letter by early January 2027, you should contact the Warm Home Discount Scheme. Its contact details are on the GOV.UK Warm Home Discount pages. Have your name, address, benefit details and electricity account number to hand. Be wary of anyone who calls, texts or emails asking for bank details to “release” your discount: the money is applied by your supplier and never needs bank details.
Warm Home Discount automatic payment vs applying
In England and Wales, the scheme is designed to be largely automatic. In Scotland, households may need to apply directly to their supplier, and the rules differ, so check the Scotland pages on GOV.UK if you live there.
| Where you live | How you get it |
|---|---|
| England and Wales | Usually automatic; letter explains whether you need to do anything |
| Scotland | You may need to apply to your supplier |
| Northern Ireland | Not available |
| Park homes | Separate application process |
Other help with heating bills this winter
The Warm Home Discount does not affect other payments, so check whether you can get these too:
- Cold Weather Payment: £25 for each seven-day period of freezing weather in your area, for people on certain benefits. Our guide to Cold Weather Payments explains who qualifies.
- Winter Fuel Payment: for people above State Pension age, subject to current rules.
- Your supplier’s own support: suppliers must help customers who are struggling to pay, for example with repayment plans.
- Priority Services Register: free extra support from your supplier and network, and in some cases a free gas safety check. See our guide to the Priority Services Register and free gas safety checks.
Making £150 go further on gas heating
A £150 credit helps, but heating a draughty house through January can easily use more than that. The biggest savings come from using less gas for the same comfort:
- Turn the radiator flow temperature down on a condensing combi boiler so it runs in its more efficient condensing mode.
- Heat the rooms you use. Use thermostatic radiator valves to keep spare rooms cooler, but not cold enough to cause damp.
- Bleed radiators that are cold at the top and keep furniture and curtains from covering them.
- Cut draughts around doors, letterboxes and loft hatches, without blocking any vents needed by gas appliances.
- Get the boiler serviced. A service checks that the boiler burns safely and correctly.
Our article on cheap ways to keep your house warm has more low-cost ideas. If you need to understand how much your gas costs per unit this quarter, see our guide to the January 2027 price cap and gas heating costs.
Never use a gas oven or hob to heat your home, and never bring outdoor heaters or barbecues inside. They can produce deadly carbon monoxide. If you smell gas, call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Warm Home Discount paid automatically?
In England and Wales, usually yes. If you were eligible on the qualifying date, the scheme should send you a letter. If the letter says you qualify, your supplier applies the £150 without you doing anything. If it asks for more information, you need to call the helpline by the deadline in the letter.
Can I get the Warm Home Discount if I rent?
Yes, as long as you meet the conditions, including having your name or your partner’s name on the electricity bill. If your landlord pays the electricity and includes it in your rent, you are unlikely to qualify because the account is not in your name. Ask your landlord whether they receive any discount.
Can I get the Warm Home Discount on my gas bill?
Possibly. The discount is normally applied to electricity, but GOV.UK says that if the same supplier provides both your gas and electricity, you may be able to have it applied to your gas bill instead. Contact your supplier to ask whether they offer this option.
Does the Warm Home Discount affect my benefits?
No. GOV.UK confirms the Warm Home Discount does not affect your Cold Weather Payment or Winter Fuel Payment. It is a credit applied by your energy supplier, not a payment into your bank account, so you can receive it alongside other winter support you are entitled to.
What happens if I switch supplier after getting a letter?
The discount is applied by the supplier that is part of the scheme and holds your account, so switching can complicate things. If you plan to switch during winter, contact your current supplier first to ask how it affects your Warm Home Discount, and keep your letter.
Keep your heating safe and efficient
The Warm Home Discount helps with the bill, but a boiler that is working properly helps every month. If your boiler is due a service, keeps losing pressure, or some radiators stay cold, our Gas Safe registered engineers cover Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Kidsgrove, Crewe and the surrounding area. Contact Gasmaster to book a service or repair.