State pensioners claiming any of these 6 benefits can get £150 off British Gas bill

State pensioners on a low income who are claiming one of six means-tested benefits can get a .

The discount is part of the that has been extended by the () for 2024/25 to help vulnerable households that are in, or at risk of, fuel poverty this winter.

The discount is applied directly to your bill by if you’re eligible, rather than as a direct payment to you.

There are different ways to qualify for the support depending on where you live. If you live in England and Wales, you’ll get it if you receive either the Guarantee element of Pension Credit, or if you’re on a low income, have high energy costs and claim any of these six qualifying benefits:

• 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 or Working Tax Credit.

If you live in Scotland, the same criteria applies but you must also meet your energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme. Unfortunately, the scheme is not available to anyone who lives in Northern Ireland.

You should receive a letter between October 2024 and January 2025 if you’re eligible, confirming that you don’t need to do anything and the discount will be applied automatically.

You should get the £150 discount by March 31, 2025, and this will be taken off your energy bill directly by British Gas.

But it’s not just British Gas taking part in the scheme as there are more than 20 other suppliers taking part. So if you’re with any of the following energy suppliers you’ll also get the £150 discount:

• 100Green (formerly Green Energy UK or GEUK)

• Affect Energy – see Octopus Energy

• Boost

• Bulb Energy – see Octopus Energy

• Co-op Energy – see Octopus Energy

• E – also known as E (Gas and Electricity)

• Ecotricity

• E.ON Next

• EDF

• Fuse Energy

• Good Energy

• Home 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

If you think you’re eligible for the discount but don’t receive a letter by early January 2025, you should contact the Warm Home Discount Scheme helpline on 0800 030 9322 before the deadline of February 28, 2025.