Warm Home Discount Scheme

Since the 2022 reform of the scheme, there are two qualifying routes in England and Wales:

Core Group 1 (automatic): You receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit and your electricity supplier is a participating member of the scheme. The government matches its data with the DWP and supplies participate in the scheme automatically — you should receive a letter from your supplier confirming the discount will be applied and the expected date.

Core Group 2 (may be automatic or require contacting supplier): You are on a low income (receiving certain means-tested benefits including Universal Credit) and your home has a high energy cost as determined by the government's data matching. You may receive a letter confirming you qualify, or you may need to contact your supplier to confirm eligibility under this group.

In Scotland, the Warm Home Discount scheme operates differently. There is no automatic data matching — instead, you must apply directly through your energy supplier. Each participating supplier in Scotland runs its own application process and eligibility criteria under the broader group rules.

If you live in Scotland and believe you qualify (based on receiving certain means-tested benefits or being on a low income), contact your energy supplier before the scheme closes for the year — usually around March. Application windows fill up quickly and late applicants may miss out even if they meet the eligibility criteria.

If you believe you qualify but have not received the discount or a letter about it, contact your energy supplier directly. Provide your account details and explain why you think you qualify — for example, that you receive Pension Credit. The supplier can check the government's data matching records.

If your supplier is not a member of the scheme, you will not qualify through that supplier. Switching to a participating supplier could unlock the discount for future years. Check GOV.UK for the current list of participating suppliers.

The discount is applied to your electricity account — if you have a prepayment meter, it is applied as a credit. If you have a direct debit account, it reduces your bill. If you are in credit, your supplier should refund the difference or reduce your direct debit.

Since the 2022 reforms, the Warm Home Discount in England and Wales operates through two distinct eligibility tracks, and understanding which applies to you is important for knowing what action to take.

Core Group 1 covers households receiving the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit. If you are in Core Group 1 and your energy supplier participates in the scheme, the government's data systems automatically identify you and notify your supplier. You should receive a letter from your supplier confirming the £150 discount will be applied to your account and indicating the expected payment date. No application is needed. If you receive Guarantee Credit but have not received a letter by January of the scheme year, contact your supplier to check why.

Core Group 2 (the Broader Group) covers low-income households on means-tested benefits — including Universal Credit, income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Income Support, and Housing Benefit — where the government's data matching assesses the property as having a high energy cost relative to household income. If you fall into Core Group 2, you may receive a letter confirming automatic qualification, or you may need to contact your supplier directly to check whether you qualify and to confirm your eligibility. Not all households in Core Group 2 receive letters — some must proactively ask their supplier to check the government's eligibility data.

Checking whether your supplier participates: Not all energy suppliers are required to participate in the Warm Home Discount scheme — only larger suppliers above a customer threshold must do so. The current list of participating suppliers is published on GOV.UK each scheme year. If your supplier is not on the list, you will not receive the discount through them regardless of your eligibility. Small or newer suppliers may not participate. If your supplier does not participate, you may wish to consider switching to a participating supplier before the next scheme year opens — eligibility is based on your circumstances in the qualifying week, typically late September.