Glossary · UK
What is Warm Home Discount?
A one-off £150 rebate on your winter electricity bill for eligible low-income and pensioner households, paid automatically by your energy supplier.
Full Definition
The Warm Home Discount is a government scheme that gives eligible households a £150 discount on their electricity bill during winter, usually applied automatically between October and March. It is not paid as cash; instead your supplier credits the amount to your electricity account (or to your meter if you use prepayment). To qualify in England and Wales you generally need to receive a qualifying means-tested benefit, such as Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, Universal Credit, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, or certain tax credits, and your home must have high estimated energy costs based on its property characteristics. Most eligible households receive the discount automatically, so you do not need to apply, though you may get a letter asking you to confirm details. The scheme is run by suppliers above a certain customer-number threshold, so very small suppliers may not participate. Scotland operates the scheme differently, splitting it into a Core Group (automatic, mainly pension-age recipients) and a Broader Group for which you must apply directly to your supplier before funds run out. Northern Ireland has its own separate energy support arrangements rather than this scheme.