What is the Warm Home Discount and how can I apply?

It’s a government-backed scheme to help reduce costs if you’re on low income, getting certain benefits and struggling to pay your electricity or gas bills. 

So how do you know if you are eligible, if you need to apply and how to get this discount? Here at MoneyHelper, we have put together the answers to some of those all important questions.  

The Warm Home Discount will give you £150 off your electricity bill for the winter period bills between October 2022 and March 2023, if you qualify. This discount is not available in Northern Ireland.

The money isn’t paid directly to you. Instead, a discount is applied to your electricity bill. You could get also money off your gas bill if your supplier provides you with both gas and electricity (known as a dual fuel tariff)

You might be able to get a Warm Home discount if you fall into any of these core groups.

To qualify:

• you or your partner’s or spouse’s name has to be on the bill 
• you or your partner or spouse are getting the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit 
• you are with an energy supplier that offers the Warm Home Discount. 

To qualify:

• You'll need to be with an energy supplier that offers the Warm Home Discount.
• You’re on a low income, get certain means-tested benefits and are in or at risk of fuel poverty.

Countries in the UK measure Fuel Poverty differently:  

• In England, you’re assessed on whether you have a low income and high household costs.
• In Scotland and Wales, you’re assessed as being in fuel poverty if you spend more than 10% of your household income on energy costs.
• In Northern Ireland, the Warm Home Discount isn’t available but there are energy and grant schemes that may help with energy money saving.

If you’re a homeowner or a private renter in Northern Ireland and have a household income of less than £23,000, find out more about the affordable warmth schemeOpens in a new window in Northern Ireland. 

The list of benefits that would qualify you to receive the Warm Home Discount has changed for 2022/23. If you’re not sure if you qualify this year, you can call the government Warm Home Discount phone line on 0800 107 8002 between 14 November 2022 and 31 March 2023 to find out.

This depends on your supplier’s scheme, but you may be eligible if you’re getting one of the following means tested benefits:

• Universal Credit (low income elements) 
• Income Support
• Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income related Employment and Support allowance (which includes a work-related activity or support component)
• Housing Benefit
• Support for Mortgage Interest (paid as a loan)
• Child Tax Credit (if your income is below a certain amountOpens in a new window) 
• Working Tax Credit (if your income is below a certain amount). 

Universal Credit must also include one of these payments:

• Child element for children aged 5 or under
• Disabled child element
• A disability or pensioner premium.

From autumn 2022 both core group 1 and core group 2 no longer need to apply for the Warm Home Discount in England and Wales. Your supplier should know whether you qualify already. If you live in Scotland and are eligible for Warm Home Discount because of a low income, you’ll need to contact your supplier as soon as possible as they only have a limited number of discounts available. 

However, for most the discount is now automatically applied each year. To find out if you qualify you can call the government Warm Home Discount phone line on 0800 107 8002 between 14 November 2022 and 31 March 2023.

If you’re with an energy supplier that doesn’t offer Warm Home Discount, but you still qualify for it, you should switch to a company that provides it. 

Most energy companies do have Warm Home Discount, you can find a list of suppliers at GOV.UKOpens in a new window

The Warm Home Discount is available to you if you live in a park home, however you will need to apply for it. More details are available at GOV.UKOpens in a new window

The government’s phone line to check your eligibility for the Warm Home Discount this winter opens on 14 November 2022. The discount is applied between October and March every year. 

Most energy suppliers do offer this discount. However, not all suppliers take part in the Warm Home Discount scheme. 

If you qualify for the discount and your current supplier doesn’t offer it, you might want to switch supplier to one who does. 

If you use a pre-pay or pay-as-you-go meter, you can still qualify for the discount.  Make sure you let your electricity supplier know and providing you are eligible, they will automatically apply the discount.

No, payment of a Warm Home Discount does not affect your entitlement to a Winter Fuel Payment or Cold Weather Payment.