Warm Home Discount Payments 2021-22: A Guide

With fuel prices soaring at the moment, it's looking like many people will need any extra help available with heating bills this Winter.

The Warm Home Discount is a government scheme which gives people receiving certain benefits a payment of £140 towards their winter electricity bills. It's paid for by energy suppliers.

This is in addition to, not instead of, Cold Weather Payments and Winter Fuel Payments.

Some of the above payments you need to apply for, and some are automatic in certain circumstances so I thought it might be helpful to list them (source: mainly the gov.uk website).

Warm Home Discount Scheme

You could get £140 off your electricity bill for winter 2021 to 2022 under the Warm Home Discount Scheme. The scheme opens on 18 October 2021.

The money is not paid to you - it's a one-off discount on your electricity bill, between October and March.

You may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead if your supplier provides you with both gas and electricity. Contact your supplier to find out.

The discount will not affect your Cold Weather Payment or Winter Fuel Payment.

There are 2 ways to qualify for the Warm Home Discount Scheme, and how you apply for the Warm Home Discount Scheme depends on how you qualify for the discount.

• you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit - known as the 'core group'. You should receive a letter between October and December 2021 telling you how to get the discount if you qualify. Your letter will say if you need to call a helpline by 28 February 2022 to confirm your details. Your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill by 31 March 2022. Contact the Warm Home Discount helpline if you do not get the letter by 31 December and you think you're eligible for the 'core group': 0800 731 0214.
• you're on a low income and meet your energy supplier's criteria for the scheme - known as the 'broader group'. Your electricity supplier decides who can get the discount, and you apply to them directly. The number of discounts suppliers can give is limited. Check with your supplier as early as possible to see if you're eligible and how to apply. Check with them even if you were eligible for a discount last year. Your electricity supplier will apply the discount, if given, to your bill by 31 March 2022.

Energy Supplier 2021-22 Warm Home Discount application details:

British Gas - https://www.britishgas.co.uk/energy/energy-saving/warm-home-discount.html

EDF Energy - https://www.edfenergy.com/for-home/help-support/warm-home-discount

E.On - https://www.eonenergy.com/warm-home-discount.html

Npower - no longer exist: they are now part of E.On

Scottish Power - https://community.scottishpower.co.uk/t5/Extra-Help/Warm-Home-Discount-Scheme/ta-p/14

SSE - https://selectra.co.uk/energy/providers/sse/warm-home-discount

Bulb - https://help.bulb.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/360034712312

You can still qualify for the discount if you use a pre-pay or pay-as-you-go electricity meter. Your electricity supplier can tell you how you'll get the discount if you're eligible, for example a voucher you can use to top up your meter.

You apply a different way if you live in a park home. Park home applications for winter 2021 to 2022 will open in autumn 2021. Fill in the Park Homes Warm Home Discount contact form to be told when the scheme reopens.

Winter Fuel Payment

If you were born on or before 26 September 1955 you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills. This is known as a 'Winter Fuel Payment'.

• get the State Pension
• get another social security benefit (not Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit or Universal Credit)

If you do not get either of these, or if you live abroad, you may need to make a claim.

Cold Weather Payments

You may get a Cold Weather Payment if you're getting certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest.

You'll get £25 for each 7 day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March.