Cost of Living Support

The Warm Home Discount is a £150 discount applied directly to your electricity bill between October and March. From 2022, most eligible people in England and Wales receive it automatically without needing to apply.

You should qualify automatically if:

• Your electricity supplier is part of the scheme (most large suppliers), and
• You receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, or
• You are on a low income and your home has a high energy cost (assessed by the government using government data — no application needed)

If you think you should qualify but have not received the discount automatically, contact your energy supplier directly to request it. Suppliers must open a broader group application process for those not automatically qualifying. In Scotland, the scheme works differently and you usually need to apply through your supplier.

The Winter Fuel Payment was historically an automatic payment of £200–£300 for everyone above State Pension age. From winter 2024–25, it has been restricted to households receiving Pension Credit or certain other means-tested benefits.

If you are above State Pension age and receive Pension Credit, you should receive the Winter Fuel Payment automatically in November or December. The amount is £200 for households under 80 and £300 for those aged 80 or over.

If you do not currently receive Pension Credit but are on a low income, it is very important to check your Pension Credit eligibility — up to one million eligible pensioners do not claim it, and it now unlocks the Winter Fuel Payment as well as other entitlements. Call the Pension Credit helpline (0800 99 1234) or use the online calculator on GOV.UK.

The Household Support Fund provides councils with money to distribute to residents most in need. Each local authority decides how to allocate their allocation — typically to help with food, energy, and essential household items. This may be in the form of:

• Supermarket vouchers or food parcels
• Energy vouchers or direct energy top-ups
• White goods (fridges, washing machines) for households in severe hardship
• Grants for school uniforms, nappies, or essential clothing

To access Household Support Fund help, contact your local council directly — usually through their website under "financial support" or "benefits". Some areas also operate referral schemes through food banks, schools, and the NHS.

The government has extended the Household Support Fund through to at least September 2025. It is particularly aimed at households not receiving other means-tested benefits.

Two major schemes offer free or heavily subsidised energy efficiency improvements to qualifying homes:

ECO4 (Energy Company Obligation): Obligates large energy suppliers to fund insulation, heating upgrades (including heat pumps), and other energy efficiency measures for low-income households and those in the worst-insulated homes. To qualify, you must receive certain benefits (including Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Child Benefit, or Tax Credits) and live in a property rated EPC E, F, or G. Apply through your energy supplier or an installer registered with the scheme.

Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS): A separate government scheme providing single measures — usually loft or cavity wall insulation — to households in EPC D or below, as well as to low-income households regardless of EPC rating. Apply via GOV.UK or through an approved installer.

Both schemes are free to eligible households. Getting insulation installed can reduce energy bills by hundreds of pounds per year.