The Warm Home Discount scheme is running between November 2025 and March 2026, according to StepChange, which describes it as a government scheme in England, Wales and Scotland that helps people on low income with their energy bills over the winter1. People who meet the criteria receive a one-time £150 discount applied to their energy bill1.
Eligibility differs by nation. In England and Wales, a household must either get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit or be on a low income. In Scotland, a household must either get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, or be on a low income and meet its energy supplier's criteria for the scheme1. The scheme is not available in Northern Ireland, where the Affordable Warmth scheme is the alternative named by StepChange1. The full criteria are set out in the guidance on who qualifies for the Warm Home Discount.
The qualifying date has already passed. A household needed to have met the criteria on 24 August 2025 to get the discount, although a claim may still qualify if a benefits claim or pension credit is backdated to that date or earlier1. Letters were sent between October 2025 and January 2026 to households that meet the criteria, and to those who might meet them but need to send more information1.
"You don't need to do anything if you meet the criteria for the scheme."
The supplier applies the discount to the bill by 31 March 20261. Where more information is needed, the letter directs the household to call the DWP Warm Home Discount helpline by 28 February 20261. StepChange advises contacting the helpline if a household believes it meets the criteria but has not received a letter before January 20261. How the discount is paid, and which suppliers take part, is covered in the guidance on the Warm Home Discount and suppliers.
| Nation | Criteria as described by StepChange |
|---|---|
| England and Wales | Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, or low income |
| Scotland | Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, or low income plus the supplier's criteria |
| Northern Ireland | Scheme not available; Affordable Warmth scheme named instead |
Why it matters for households
The discount is applied to the energy bill rather than paid as cash, so it reduces the amount owed for the winter period covered by the scheme. At £150 it is a fixed one-off amount, not a change to the unit rate a household pays, so it does not alter the underlying cost of each kilowatt hour used. For a household on a low income or receiving the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, it lowers the total bill for the season without changing the tariff. The scheme sits alongside other support, and the differences between it and the Winter Fuel Payment and a social tariff are set out separately. Households looking at the wider landscape of support can start from the guide to home energy grants and schemes in the UK.
What happens next
Letters continue to be issued to qualifying households up to January 2026. Where a letter asks for more information, the DWP Warm Home Discount helpline must be called by 28 February 2026. Suppliers must apply the discount to the bill by 31 March 20261.
Sources1 cited
- Warm Home Discount Scheme. 2025-2026. StepChange, stepchange.org