The discount will be applied directly to customers’ energy accounts (Image: Getty)
Numerous suppliers are extending a helping hand this winter, offering a £150 discount on energy bills for struggling households. The support comes as part of the Government’s ‘Warm Home Discount’ scheme which enables providers to offer a £150 reduction on electricity bills for those receiving specific Department for Work and Pensions () benefits.
Although the cash isn’t directly deposited into bank accounts, it will be directly applied to customers’ energy accounts, boosting their exclusive energy bill credit by £150.
For individuals using traditional prepayment meters, a voucher will be sent out which can be redeemed to add credit to their meter at home. Automatic eligibility for the support is given to claimants of certain benefits, including:
- Income related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- Universal Credit
- Housing benefit
- Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits
- Pension Credit Savings Credit (PCSC)
If you’re receiving certain DWP benefits, you may be eligible for the discount (Image: Getty)
[HSBC]
The Warm Home Discount comes as the UK is bracing for the impact of Ofgem’s new energy price cap. From tomorrow (October 1) to December 31, a typical household paying by Direct Debit and using electricity and gas will see bills go up to ‘£1,717 per year’.
Ofgem: “This is an increase of 10% and adds around £12 per month to an average bill. The new cap is 6% (£117) cheaper compared to the same period last year (£1,834).”
To be eligible for this year’s payment, claimants must be receiving these benefits during the qualifying week traditionally in August, although the exact dates for the current year have yet to be announced. It’s crucial to note that not all energy suppliers participate in the Warm Home Discount scheme; thus, qualification for the benefits does not guarantee receiving the discount.
Based on information from GOV. UK, a list of suppliers who participated in the previous year’s Warm Home Discount scheme is available. It is anticipated that these suppliers will also participate in the current year’s program, though this has not yet been officially confirmed. According to , these suppliers include:
- 100Green (formerly Green Energy UK or GEUK)
- Affect Energy
- Atlantic
- Boost
- British Gas
- Bulb Energy
- Co-op Energy
- E
- Ecotricity
- E.ON Next
- EDF
- Good Energy
- London Power
- Octopus Energy
- Outfox the Market
- OVO
- Rebel Energy
- Sainsbury’s Energy
- Scottish Gas
- Scottish Hydro
- ScottishPower
- Shell Energy Retail
- So Energy
- Southern Electric
- SSE Energy Services
- Swalec
- Tomato Energy
- TruEnergy
- Utilita
- Utility Warehouse
The scheme opens in October and runs until March each year (Image: Getty)
[HEALTH] [ENERGY BILLS] [HMRC]
If your energy supplier is part of the scheme, they should contact you to let you know whether you are eligible. These letters usually arrive before January of the following year.
The scheme opens in October and runs until March each year, so your discount can be applied at any time.