Warm Home Discount 2026 to 2027: Who Gets £150 Off

The Warm Home Discount takes £150 off the electricity bills of some households on means-tested benefits, once each winter. For winter 2026 to 2027, GOV.UK says the qualifying day was 23 August 2026, and most people who qualify get the discount automatically. This guide explains who qualifies and what to do if you think you should get it.

The details below are from GOV.UK as of mid-October 2026. When we checked, GOV.UK said the scheme “has closed” and “will reopen in October 2026”, so check the GOV.UK pages for the latest position.

What you get

GOV.UK describes the Warm Home Discount as “a one-off £150 discount off your electricity bill.” Two details are worth knowing:

• It is applied to your bill. GOV.UK says “your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill. The money is not paid to you.”
• Prepayment meters count. GOV.UK says you can still qualify if you have a pre-pay or pay-as-you-go electricity meter.

With the energy price cap at £1,723 a year for a typical household paying by direct debit from 1 October 2026, according to Ofgem, £150 is a meaningful share of a winter’s energy bills. Our guide to the energy price cap explains what the cap does and does not limit.

Who qualifies in England and Wales

GOV.UK says you may be eligible if all of the following applied on 23 August 2026:

1. your energy supplier is part of the scheme
2. you, or your partner, get certain means-tested benefits
3. your name, or your partner’s, is on the electricity bill

The qualifying benefits GOV.UK lists for England and Wales are:

• Universal Credit
• Housing Benefit
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Pension Credit

Is it automatic?

GOV.UK’s overview page says “You’ll usually get the discount automatically if you’re eligible.” If you think you qualify and do not receive it, GOV.UK has a page for people who did not get their discount, linked from the main Warm Home Discount page.

Who qualifies in Scotland

Scotland has its own version. GOV.UK says the same 23 August 2026 conditions apply, with two groups:

• The core group gets the discount without applying. GOV.UK gives examples such as getting Pension Credit, or having a child under 5 alongside certain benefits.
• The broader group depends on your electricity supplier’s own extra criteria. GOV.UK says that if you do not get the discount automatically, you will need to apply directly to your energy supplier.

If you live in Scotland and think you are in the broader group, contact your supplier and ask how and when to apply.

Park homes

GOV.UK notes that park home residents apply a different way, and links to a separate application route from its main Warm Home Discount page.

What to do now

1. Check whether you qualified on 23 August 2026. Look at which benefits you or your partner were getting that day, and whose name is on your electricity bill.
2. Check your supplier is in the scheme. Your supplier can tell you.
3. Watch your electricity bill or account for the £150 discount during the winter.
4. If it does not arrive and you think you qualify, use GOV.UK’s help page for people who did not get their discount.

Other help with energy bills

If your energy bills are hard to pay, there is more you can do:

• Claim back credit. If you have paid more than you used, Citizens Advice says you can ask your supplier for it back. Our energy price cap guide explains how.
• Talk to your supplier early if you are falling behind. Energy is a priority bill. Our guide to which bills to pay first explains why.
• Check other discounts for broadband, phone and water in our social tariffs guide.

Keep track of winter bills

Winter is when energy bills are highest, so it helps to see them alongside everything else. A bill tracker like Billo lists every bill with its due date and reminds you 3 days before each one, so a bigger winter bill does not catch you out.

Summary

• £150 off your electricity bill, applied by your supplier.
• England and Wales: qualifying day 23 August 2026; Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, income-related ESA or Pension Credit; your name or your partner’s on the bill; supplier in the scheme.
• Usually automatic. In Scotland, the broader group applies to the supplier.
• Prepayment meters can still qualify.