What is the Warm Home Discount?

For people on a low income who pay for electricity.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

It's a one-off £150 discount off your electricity bill. It reopens in October 2026 for winter 2026 to 2027.

Your supplier applies it to your bill; the money isn't paid to you.
You usually get it automatically if eligible; in Scotland you may need to apply to your supplier.
It works with prepay meters too.
It won't affect Cold Weather or Winter Fuel Payments.
It isn't available in Northern Ireland.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

£150 off electricity
Reopens October 2026
Usually automatic

Who can get the Warm Home Discount for winter 2026 to 2027

The scheme reopens in October 2026. Whether you qualify depends on your situation on the qualifying date, 23 August 2026.

England and Wales

You may be eligible if all of these applied on 23 August 2026:

your electricity supplier is part of the scheme
you or your partner got one of these benefits: Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), or Pension Credit
your name, or your partner's name, was on the electricity bill

If you qualify, you will usually get the discount automatically. You do not need to apply.

Scotland

Scotland has two groups.

Core group (automatic). You will usually get the discount without applying if, on 23 August 2026, you or your partner:

got Pension Credit
got an extra amount of Universal Credit because you or your child has a disability or health condition
got a disability premium or pensioner premium with income-related ESA
had a Support for Mortgage Interest loan with a disability or pensioner premium
were responsible for a child under 5 living with you, and were not working and got Universal Credit
were responsible for a child under 5 living with you, and got income-related ESA
were responsible for a child under 5 living with you, and had a Support for Mortgage Interest loan

Broader group (you must apply). If you are not in the core group, you may still get it by applying to your electricity supplier. Each supplier sets its own extra rules, so ask them what they need.

Who cannot get it

People in Northern Ireland. The scheme does not run there.
Households whose electricity supplier is not in the scheme.
Households where neither you nor your partner is named on the electricity bill.

Special cases

Prepayment meters: you can still get it. Your supplier may give you a voucher to top up, or apply it another way.
Gas bills: if the same supplier gives you gas and electricity, you may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead.

The discount is taken off your bill. You are not paid the money. Getting it will not affect a Cold Weather Payment or Winter Fuel Payment.

How to check if you qualify

Check that your supplier is on the GOV.UK list of suppliers in the scheme.
Check your benefits on 23 August 2026 against the lists above.
Make sure your name, or your partner's, is on the electricity account.
In Scotland, if you are not in the core group, contact your supplier to apply.

If you were eligible but did not get your discount, contact your electricity supplier first. If they cannot help, GOV.UK explains how to write to the Warm Home Discount Scheme. Citizens Advice can also give free help.

Related guides

Where this comes from

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Common questions

Who is eligible for the Warm Home Discount in England and Wales?

You qualify if on 23 August 2026 you or your partner got Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, income-related ESA or Pension Credit. Your supplier must be in the scheme and your name or your partner's must be on the electricity bill.

Do I need to apply for the Warm Home Discount?

In England and Wales your supplier applies it automatically. In Scotland, if you do not get it automatically, you need to apply to your energy supplier.

Who gets it automatically in Scotland?

People who get Pension Credit get it automatically. So do some people on Universal Credit or income-related ESA, for example with a disability or a child under 5.

Can I get the Warm Home Discount on my gas bill?

You may be able to if the same supplier provides both your gas and electricity.

Official sources

1.Warm Home Discount Schemewww.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme
2.Warm Home Discount: if you live in England or Waleswww.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme/if-you-live-in-england-and-wales
3.Warm Home Discount: if you live in Scotlandwww.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme/if-you-live-in-scotland

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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