The Warm Home Discount scheme, which provides a one-off £150 discount on electricity bills, is scheduled to reopen in October 2026 for the winter 2026/27 period. The discount is applied directly to the electricity bill by the supplier, rather than being paid into a bank account.
Eligibility criteria vary depending on location. In England and Wales, households may qualify if their electricity supplier participated in the scheme, they or their partner received a qualifying means-tested benefit, and their name or their partner's name was on the electricity bill, all as of 23 August 2026. Qualifying benefits include Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, and Pension Credit.
Many eligible households in England and Wales are expected to receive the discount automatically. However, in Scotland, some eligible households are in an automatic core group, while others may qualify through a broader group and will need to apply directly to their electricity supplier. Suppliers may have additional eligibility criteria for their broader groups.
Most eligible core-group households should receive a government letter during the winter informing them of their eligibility or requesting confirmation of details. Suppliers are generally required to provide the discount by 31 March 2027. For credit accounts, the £150 is typically credited to the energy account, while prepayment meter users will be informed by their supplier how the discount will be provided, which may include credit or a voucher.