The Warm Home Discount (WHD) scheme offers a one-off payment to help eligible households with their energy costs during the colder months. For winter 2026 to 2027, this government-backed scheme reopens in October 2026, providing a £150 discount off your electricity bill. For most eligible households in England and Wales, this discount is applied automatically.
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What is the Warm Home Discount?
The WHD is a government scheme designed to help low-income households in Great Britain manage their energy costs during winter. It provides a one-off £150 discount directly applied to your electricity bill. For those with prepayment meters, the £150 is typically added as credit to your meter or provided as a voucher. The scheme reopens in October 2026, with payments expected to be made by 31 March 2027.
Key changes for 2026/27
For the 2026/27 scheme year, the WHD continues its focus on supporting vulnerable customers. Eligibility is primarily determined by receiving certain benefits and having high energy costs. Most eligible households in England and Wales will receive the payment automatically, without needing to apply. However, some groups, such as park home residents, may still need to complete an application.
Eligibility for the WHD for winter 2026/27 is determined by your circumstances on a specific qualifying day: 23 August 2026. To qualify, you must have been with an energy supplier participating in the scheme, and your name (or your partner's) must have been on the electricity bill on this date.
Core Group 1: Pension credit guarantee credit
You are likely to be in Core Group 1 if you were receiving the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit on the qualifying day, 23 August 2026. If you meet this criterion and your electricity supplier was part of the scheme, you should receive the £150 discount automatically.
Core Group 2: low income and high energy costs
You may be in Core Group 2 if you were receiving certain means-tested benefits on 23 August 2026, and your property was deemed to have high energy costs. Qualifying benefits typically include Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), or Income Support.
Eligibility for park home residents
Residents of park homes who pay for their electricity through a site owner may qualify for a separate Park Home WHD scheme. This scheme often has its own application process and specific criteria, such as household income below £20,328 a year, or someone on a qualifying benefit. If you live in a park home, you will likely need to apply directly for this support.
Automatic payments for most
For the majority of eligible households in England and Wales, the WHD is applied automatically. The government uses data matching to identify those who qualify, meaning you do not need to take any action to receive the payment. You should receive a letter between November and January confirming your eligibility.
Discount on your electricity bill
The £150 discount is applied directly to your electricity bill. It is not a cash payment. This helps to reduce the overall cost of your electricity usage during the colder months. Understanding your energy bill can help you see how this discount is applied, and how it impacts your overall spending.
Prepayment meters and the discount
If you have a prepayment meter, the £150 discount will be provided as credit for future use. For smart prepayment meters, the credit may be sent directly to your meter. For traditional prepayment meters, you will typically receive a voucher that you can use to top up your meter at a Post Office or PayPoint outlet. Your supplier will provide instructions on how to redeem it.
Scheme opening and payment window
The WHD scheme for winter 2026/27 reopens in October 2026. If you are eligible, your energy supplier will apply the £150 credit to your electricity account at some point between early October 2026 and 31 March 2027. Most customers are expected to receive their discount before January 2027.
Qualifying day in August 2026
Your eligibility for the discount is assessed based on your circumstances on 23 August 2026. This means that the benefits you were receiving and your energy supplier on this specific date are crucial for determining whether you qualify for the 2026/27 payment.
Checking your eligibility
If you believe you should have received the WHD but have not, first review the eligibility criteria based on the qualifying day of 23 August 2026. Confirm that you were receiving a qualifying benefit and that your electricity supplier was participating in the scheme on that date.
Contacting your energy supplier
If your eligibility is confirmed but you still have not received the payment by 31 March 2027, contact the energy supplier you were with on the qualifying date.
Seeking further assistance
For additional help or advice, you can reach out to organisations like Citizens Advice or Age UK, who provide support and guidance on energy schemes and financial assistance. For broader support with your energy costs, exploring available energy bill support can provide further options.
Beyond the WHD, several other government and charitable schemes can help with energy costs.
Winter Fuel Payment
The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual, one-off payment of between £100 and £300 to help people of State Pension age with their heating bills. For winter 2026 to 2027, you are eligible if you were born before 28 June 1960. Most eligible individuals receive this payment automatically, typically in November or December. From winter 2025/26 onwards, if your total taxable income is over £35,000 a year, the full amount of the payment will be recovered by HMRC via your tax code or Self Assessment. This payment covers England and Wales only.
Cold Weather payment
The Cold Weather Payment is a one-off payment for each qualifying cold spell, available to people already on certain benefits. It is paid between 1 November and 31 March, each time the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0°C or below for seven consecutive days. Eligibility depends on the specific benefit you receive, such as Universal Credit with a child under 5, Pension Credit, or certain JSA/ESA/Income Support cases.
Fuel vouchers and energy debt grants
If you are struggling to afford your prepayment meter top-ups, you may be able to get a fuel voucher from your local council. These vouchers add credit to your gas card or electricity key and can be redeemed at PayPoint, Post Office, or Payzone outlets.
For those with energy debt, grants are available. The British Gas Energy Trust offers grants to anyone, not just British Gas customers, after receiving debt advice. You can also check if your own energy supplier offers a hardship fund to support their customers.
Managing your energy bills should be clear and easy to understand. Fuse Energy focuses on straightforward pricing, so you can see exactly what you are paying without unnecessary complexity. If you have a smart meter, you can view detailed usage data through the app or website, helping you understand how you can lower your bills. Our 24/7 human support team is always on hand with fast response times whenever you need help. Click here to switch to Fuse Energy today. Find out about our mission by clicking here.
