Households only have hours left to get £150 energy bill discount - how to claim

29 February 2024 , 09:01

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The Warm Home Discount is coming to an end this week (Image: Getty Images)

Households only have hours left to make a claim for £150 off their energy bills for this winter as the deadline to claim is today.

The Warm Home Discount scheme gives households claiming certain benefits the £150 discount on their electricity bills between October and March each year. This means the deadline to claim the cash is today (February 29).

The money is paid directly into the energy account - rather than into someone's bank account - by the supplier and usually, it is done automatically for those eligible. Prepay meter customers are sent a top up voucher. Those eligible will have been told through a letter from their supplier.

However, if you believe you are eligible and have not received one, you could miss out on the support. If this is you, you must contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) before the Warm Home Discount helpline closes today at 6pm. - once it passes you will not receive the support.

You can contact the Warm Home Discount Scheme through the helpline on 0800 030 9322. - it is open from 8am until 6pm. Once you have made an application, and are successful, you will receive the £150 discount by the end of March.

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Who is eligible for the Warm Home Discount?

The £150 electricity discount is automatically applied if you, or your partner, receive the Guarantee Credit portion of the DWP's Pension Credit - this is known as "core group one" in England and Wales and "core group" in Scotland.

You may also automatically get the Warm Home Discount if you are on a low income, claiming certain benefits and have high energy costs. This is known as being in the "core group two" if you live in England and Wales. Most people living in England and Wales will not need to make an application for help, but some in Scotland will need to apply.

The qualifying means-tested benefits include:

• 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)

To be eligible for this winter's payment, you need to have been claiming a qualifying benefit on August 13. It's important to know that not all energy providers are part of the scheme so if your circumstances qualify but your supplier is not signed up then you will not receive the £150 discount.

According to the Government's website, the following suppliers are taking part in this year's Warm Home Discount scheme:

• 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

Ruby Flanagan