The Warm Home Discount can help with Energy Bills for Winter 2025/26

The Warm Home Discount (WHD) is a government-mandated scheme that provides a one-off £150 reduction on electricity bills for eligible low-income and vulnerable households across Great Britain.

For winter 2025/26, the scheme runs from October 2025 to 31 March 2026. The Warm Home Discount is not a cash payment. Instead, it is applied directly to your electricity account or provided as a credit or voucher, depending on how you pay for your energy.

Key Details for Winter 2025/26

• Amount: £150 one-off discount
• When it’s applied: Between October 2025 and 31 March 2026
• Who provides it: Participating electricity suppliers (including most major suppliers)
• Where it’s available: England, Wales and Scotland
• Not available in: Northern Ireland

Receiving the Warm Home Discount does not affect your entitlement to other support, such as:

• Winter Fuel Payment
• Cold Weather Payment

Who Is Eligible for the Warm Home Discount?

England and Wales

Eligibility for the 2025/26 Warm Home Discount has been expanded in England and Wales.

You will generally qualify if:

• You are a customer of a participating electricity supplier
• Your name (or your partner’s) is on the electricity bill
• You fall into one of the following groups:

Core Group 1

• You receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit

Core Group 2

• You are on a low income and receive certain means-tested benefits, such as:
  • Universal Credit
  • Housing Benefit
  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

For 2025/26, the previous “high-cost-to-heat” requirement has been removed in England and Wales, meaning more households on qualifying benefits are now eligible automatically.

Eligibility in Scotland

The Warm Home Discount operates slightly differently in Scotland:

• Core Group:
  Pensioners receiving the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit usually receive the discount automatically.
• Broader Group:
  Low-income households receiving other qualifying benefits may need to apply directly to their electricity supplier, depending on circumstances.

How to Receive the Warm Home Discount

Most eligible households do not need to apply.

• If you qualify automatically, you should receive a letter from the government between November 2025 and January 2026 confirming your eligibility.
• If you believe you are eligible but have not received a letter by mid-January 2026, you should contact the Warm Home Discount helpline before 28 February 2026.

📞 Warm Home Discount Helpline: 0800 030 9322

Prepayment Meters and Park Homes

Prepayment Meters

If you use a prepayment meter, you will usually receive:

• A voucher that can be redeemed at a Post Office or PayPoint
• Or a credit added directly to your meter, depending on your supplier

Park Homes

If you live in a park home and pay the site owner for electricity:

• You may still be eligible
• You will need to apply through a separate dedicated process, as the discount cannot be applied directly to your electricity account

What If You Move Home or Switch Supplier?

Switching Supplier

If you are in a Core Group, the electricity supplier you were with on 24 August 2025 is responsible for providing the discount — even if you switch supplier later.

Moving Home

If you move house:

• Make sure your previous electricity supplier has your new address, so they can send any vouchers or correspondence if needed.

How the Warm Home Discount Fits with the Warm Homes Plan

The Warm Home Discount provides short-term bill support, while the Warm Homes Plan focuses on long-term solutions — such as insulation, clean heating and energy efficiency upgrades — to permanently reduce energy costs.

Together, these schemes help households manage energy bills now and reduce reliance on support in the future.

Interested in improving your home’s energy efficiency?

Register for the Warm Homes Plan or contact Aura Retrofit today for expert advice, surveys, and installation support.

Call 02392 252 171 or email hello@auraretrofit.co.uk