Warm Home Discount
What is the Warm Home Discount?
The Warm Home Discount (WHD) is a £150 payment to eligible households. The scheme runs every year. This year (2023), the scheme starts on 16 October. The scheme gives out a limited number of payments, so be sure to respond to any communications, or check your eligibility, as soon as possible.
What are the qualifying criteria
The government aims to give the rebate automatically to eligible households in England and Wales in, unless the government and your energy supplier are unable to identify that you are eligible. Please note there are slightly different rules for households in Scotland.
There are several criteria for being granted the WHD payment. If you are in receipt of any of the following, you may be entitled to it:
- 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
When the scheme opens on 16 October, you can check your eligibility here. You can also call the government Warm Home Discount phone line on 0800 731 0214 to find out if you are eligible. Please note that even if you meet the qualifying criteria, the government will assess your energy costs based on the type, age and size of your property to determine if you are eligible.
I received it last year, will I receive it this year?
If you’ve received a WHD payment in the past, this does not mean you will receive it automatically. Please make sure to check your eligibility using the tool highlighted above. Note that some criteria of the scheme may change slightly each year, including the threshold of household income.
If you meet the qualifying criteria, but do not receive a letter, contact the Warm Home Discount Scheme by mid-January 2023. Contact information can be found here (or call 0800 731 0214)
If I’m eligible, what do I need to do to receive it?
The first thing to note is that not every supplier offers the WHD payment, although most do. You can check if your energy supplier does here.
If you are eligible for the Warm Home Discount, you should receive a letter between November 2023 and January 2024 telling you about the discount if you’re eligible. For the most part, it will be automatically applied to your energy account, or you’ll be sent a voucher if you have a prepayment meter. However, some letters may urge you to call the WHD helpline on 0800 731 0214 by 28 February 2024 to confirm your details. If you do not, you will not receive the payment.