The Warm Home Discount scheme is now open across the UK offering pensioner households and those on a low income, claiming certain benefits, £150 off their electricity bills this winter. The money is paid directly by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to energy suppliers between October and March, 2023.
Eligible households may also be able to get the discount off their gas bill instead - if their supplier provides them with both gas and electricity. However, due to new rule changes this year, many Scottish households might need to apply for the discount, although most people will have the deduction applied automatically to their energy account.
Some members of the Daily Record Money Saving Scotland Facebook group have reported issues trying to get through to their supplier to find out if they need to apply and whether the scheme is being offered. To help everyone unsure about the Warm Home Discount scheme changes this year, a new, dedicated helpline is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm - 0800 107 8002.
Warm Home Discount letters
The UK Government will write to eligible households who are in receipt of Pension Credit Guarantee Credit to let them know when the money will be applied to their energy account, however Scots claiming certain means-tested benefits may need to apply directly to their supplier for the discount.
If you do not get a letter
Contact the Warm Home Discount helpline on 0800 107 8002 if you do not get the letter by mid-January 2023 and you think you’re eligible.
DWP says you will need to call the helpline before February 28, 2023.
If you’re a credit customer the £150 will be added to your electricity account and if you’re on Pay As You Go/Prepayment, you’ll be sent a voucher that you can use to top-up your meter.
Park homes
If you live in a park/mobile home you will need to apply in a different way. DWP guidance on GOV.UK states that applications for winter 2022 to 2023 open soon.
The scheme is available for permanent residents living in a Park Home in Scotland, England or Wales who pay their electricity bills directly to their park site owner. Applications will be considered on a first come first serve basis.
You can register your interest in applying for the Park Homes Warm Home Discount here.
Participating energy suppliers winter 2022/23
A full list of the participating energy suppliers with direct links to the dedicated Warm Home Discount page on their website can be found on GOV.UK here.
According to the guidance, the following suppliers are part of the scheme:
- Affect Energy – part of Octopus Energy
- Atlantic – part of SSE
- Boost
- British Gas
- British Gas Evolve (formerly British Gas X) - par of British Gas
- Bulb Energy
- Co-op Energy - part of Octopus Energy
- E (Gas and Electricity)
- Ecotricity
- E.ON
- E.ON Next
- EDF
- GEUK (Green Energy UK) - if you live in Scotland, you must be in the ‘core group’ to be eligible
- Good Energy
- London Power
- M&S Energy
- Nabuh Energy
- Octopus Energy
- Outfox the Market
- OVO
- Rebel Energy - if you live in Scotland, you must be in the ‘core group’ to be eligible
- Sainsbury’s Energy
- Scottish Gas – part of British Gas
- Scottish Hydro – part of SSE
- ScottishPower
- Shell Energy Retail
- So Energy
- Southern Electric – part of SSE
- SSE
- Swalec – part of SSE
- Utilita
- Utility Warehouse
Do I qualify for the £150 Warm Home Discount?
The eligibility requirements for the Warm Home Discount Scheme have changed this winter. Below is everything you need to know whether you live in Scotland, England or Wales.
People living in Scotland
If you live in Scotland, you qualify if you either:
- get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit - known as the ‘core group’
- are on a low income and meet your energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme - known as the ‘broader group’
How you apply for the Warm Home Discount Scheme depends on how you qualify for the discount.
People living in England and Wales
If you live in England and Wales, you qualify if you either:
- get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit - known as ‘core group 1’
- are on a low income and have high energy costs - known as ‘core group 2’
In both eligibility groups, DWP will make an assessment of your energy costs based on the property you live in. They will then write to you and confirm if you are eligible from November.
If you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit
You qualify for the Warm Home Discount if on August 21, 2022 all of the following applied:
- your energy supplier is part of the scheme
- your name (or your partner’s) is on the bill
- you or your partner are getting the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit (even if you get Savings Credit as well)
This is known as being in the ‘core group’ in Scotland and being in the ‘core group 1’ in England and Wales.
How to get the £150 discount
The scheme for both groups - core group and core group 1 - opened on November 14, 2022.
You will receive a letter between November 2022 and January 2023 telling you about the discount if you’re eligible.
Most eligible households will receive an automatic discount, but some may have to apply - check with your supplier.
Your letter will say if you need to call a helpline by February 28, 2023 to confirm your details.
If you’re eligible, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill by March 31, 2023.
Scotland - if you’re on a low income (broader group)
If you do not get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit you may be able to apply directly to your electricity supplier.
All the following must apply:
- your energy supplier is part of the scheme
- you (or your partner) get certain means-tested benefits or tax credits
- your name (or your partner’s) is on the bill
DWP advises that your supplier may have additional criteria so you need to check with them if you’re eligible.
Qualifying benefits - Scotland
The qualifying means-tested benefits are:
- Housing Benefit
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- the ‘Savings Credit’ part of Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
In Scotland, your electricity supplier decides who can get the discount. MoneySavingExprt.com has a handy guide to the qualifying criteria for each benefit which you can find here.
The number of discounts suppliers can give is limited, so check with your supplier as early as possible to see if you’re eligible and how to apply. Check with them even if you were eligible for the Warm Home Discount last year.
If you are eligible, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill by March 31, 2023.
England and Wales - if you’re on a low income (core group 2)
If you do not get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, you may still be eligible if on August 21, 2022 all of the following apply:
- your energy supplier is part of the scheme
- you (or your partner) get certain means-tested benefits or tax credits
- your property has a high energy cost score based on its characteristics
- your name (or your partner’s) is on the bill
This is known as being in the ‘core group 2’.
Qualifying benefits England and Wales
The qualifying means-tested benefits are:
- Housing Benefit
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- the ‘Savings Credit’ part of Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
The scheme for ‘core group 2’ opened on November 14, 2022. You will receive a letter between November 2022 and January 2023 telling you about the discount if you’re eligible.
If you’re eligible, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill by March 31, 2023.
You can read the full Warm Home Discount scheme guidance on GOV.UK here.
To keep up to date with the latest energy news, join our Money Saving Scotland Facebook page here, or subscribe to our newsletter which goes out four times each week - sign up here.
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