Customers across 25 energy suppliers might soon be in for a financial reprieve as cold weather grips the nation, particularly pivotal after more than 10 million folks lost their winter fuel payment in 2024.
The much-needed Warm Home Discount scheme anticipates its relaunch this month, promising to shave £150 off yearly energy bills for qualifying households. If your circumstances fit the bill, expect your electricity provider to automatically bestow the discount on your energy tab.
Pensions Minister Emma Reynolds MP has shed light on these financial adjustments, especially since only those claiming Pension Credit now secure winter fuel payments. Addressing parliament, she voiced her encouragement for individuals to explore their eligibility for the Warm Home Discount, projecting its impact on over three million including more than one million pensioner households commenting: “This winter, we expect over three million households, including over one million pensioners, to benefit under the scheme.”
You qualify if you either:
It is also important that your energy supplier has signed up to the scheme. The Department for Work and Pensions has issued a list of the 25 suppliers which will dish out the money.
The following suppliers are part of the scheme:
- 100Green (formerly Green Energy UK or GEUK)
- Affect Energy – see Octopus Energy
- Boost
- British Gas
- Bulb Energy – see Octopus Energy
- Co-op Energy – see Octopus Energy
- E – also known as E (Gas and Electricity)
- Ecotricity
- E.ON Next
- EDF
- Good Energy
- London Power
- Octopus Energy
- Outfox the Market
- OVO
- Rebel Energy
- Sainsbury’s Energy
- Scottish Gas – see British Gas
- ScottishPower
- Shell Energy Retail
- So Energy
- Tomato Energy
- TruEnergy
- Utilita
- Utility Warehouse
Full information on this year’s scheme has not been released yet but in 2023 people got the money if on 13 August 2023 all of the following applied:
Qualifying benefits and tax credits
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
You could also qualify if your household income falls below a certain threshold and you get either:
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
Your energy cost score
Your property must have a high energy cost score to be eligible for the scheme. This is not based on the actual energy costs in your energy bill. It’s calculated based on your property’s type, age and floor area.
For those looking to verify their eligibility for Pension Credit quickly, there are resources available. Older individuals, or their friends and family, can swiftly verify their eligibility and get an estimate of potential benefits by using the online Pension Credit calculator on GOV. UK.
Alternatively, pensioners can directly contact the Pension Credit helpline to make a claim at 0800 99 1234 – lines are open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
