What is the Warm Home Discount?

Action

If you are on a means-tested benefit, you will qualify for the Warm Home Discount in England & Wales. Check you are named on your electricity bill by 24 August 2025 to get £150.00 towards your energy this winter. If you are not named on the account you may lose out on this support this winter

What is the Core Group 2:

The Broader Group has been replaced in England and Wales with Core Group 2, which has a different eligibility criteria. The eligibility criteria can be found on https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme.

To Qualify:

your energy supplier is part of the scheme
your name is on the bill or the account
you or your partner were in receipt of a qualifying means-tested benefit, as listed below, on the qualifying date

Core Group 2 recipients are identified:

You must be in receipt of a means-tested benefits and living in a property with high energy costs.

Core 2 qualifying means tested benefits:

Income related Employment and Support Allowance
Income based Jobseeker's Allowance
Income Support
Housing Benefit
Universal Credit
Pension Credit Savings Credit (PCSC)

Key dates

24 August 2025: This is the qualifying date for a Core Group 1 and Core Group 2 rebate. You must meet the eligibility criteria on this date to be eligible for a rebate. If your benefits claim is backdated to this date or earlier, you may also become eligible for a rebate.
Later this year: The helpline (on 08000309322) will open for the 2025/26 scheme year and is for Core Group 1 and Core Group 2 customers in England and Wales. If you are eligible, the energy supplier who supplied your electricity on the qualifying date 24 August 2025 will be responsible for providing the rebate. Between October and December 2025 letters will be sent to qualifying customers for Core Group 1 and Core Group 2. The letter will confirm that they are eligible for an automatic rebate or advise you to call a helpline to check if you are eligible. The deadline for contacting the helpline is 27 February 2026. If you are advised to call the helpline, it is important that you do so by the deadline, otherwise you will not be eligible for a rebate.
Mid January 2026: If you have not received a letter by mid-January 2026, but you think you should be eligible for a rebate under Core Group 1 or Core Group 2, please check gov.uk for more information on eligibility and contacting the helpline.
31 March 2026: The supplier will apply the rebate no later than 31 March 2026. The rebate is paid on the electricity bill. If you receive both electricity and gas from one supplier (known as a 'dual fuel' account), you may be able to request your supplier to provide the rebate on your gas bill. Please contact your energy supplier as the Government helpline cannot help with payment issues.

How do I know if I qualify?

Households that qualify for the Warm Home Discount will be sent a letter from HM Government. Letters are due to be sent to qualifying customers between October and December 2025, confirming that they are eligible for the rebate and any next steps.

Your letter will say if you will receive a rebate automatically or if you need to call a helpline by 27 February 2026 to confirm your details.

Please note that there is no longer a 'Broader Group' in England and Wales. You no longer need to apply for the Warm Home Discount through your energy supplier.

If you are eligible, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill by 31 March 2026.

I have received a letter advising me to contact the helpline. When should I call up?

While most eligible households will receive their rebate automatically, you may receive a letter between October and mid-January 2025 advising you to contact the helpline to determine if you are eligible for a rebate.

How can I check if I am eligible?

If you have not received a letter by January 2026 but you think you should be eligible, please contact the helpline.

What information will I need when I call the helpline?

If you are advised to call the helpline, your letter will explain what you will need to do and the information you will need to hand.

You will need:

Your letter, which will have your reference number
Your electricity bill or statement, as you will need to read out the bill payer's name and account number

I live with my partner who is named on the energy bill, but I am eligible under the criteria. Will we receive the discount?

Under Core Group 1 or Core Group 2, either you or your partner can be in receipt of the relevant benefit or Pension Credit Guarantee Credit.

Please ensure you are both named on the account electricity bill or account of a participating supplier to ensure no delays with providing your WHD rebate

If I have not received a letter and I believe I am eligible, what should I do?

Please contact the Warm Home Discount helpline which will be open this year.

I am eligible and I've switched to a new supplier; will I still receive the payment?

The rebate will be paid by the energy company who supplied your electricity on 24 August 2025. If you have switched your electricity supply since then, you can contact your old supplier to confirm how they will issue your discount.

I am eligible and I've moved house, how will I receive the payment?

The rebate will be paid by the energy company who supplied your electricity on the 24 August 2025. If you move house after 24 August 2025, you can contact your old electricity supplier to confirm your new address and arrange payment.

I am eligible for a rebate, but my supplier has failed. Will I receive a rebate?

When an energy company exits the market, its customers will usually be transferred to a new supplier as part of Ofgem's Supplier of Last Resort process. We would expect your new supplier to provide you with the rebate. For further information, you should check with your new energy supplier.

When will I get my payment?

If you are confirmed as eligible for a rebate, your energy supplier will apply the discount to your account by 31 March 2026. For any payment issues, please contact your supplier.

Can my payment be applied to my gas account?

If we supply you for both electricity and gas as a dual fuel account, the WHD credit will be added to your credit energy account.

If you have a gas account with a different energy supplier to your electricity, we will apply the payment to your electricity account.

I'm on a prepayment meter, how will I be paid?

This may be applied as a credit directly to your meter if you are on Smart Pay As You Go or through energy vouchers to top up your traditional prepay meter.

Vouchers will be sent by letter if this is your preferred method of contact. Or if you have a registered email on your energy account, your vouchers will be emailed directly from Paypoint from noreply@paypoint.com