Help with Energy Bills for Winter 2025/26
At HEART, we’re committed to helping households find ways to manage rising energy costs and keep their homes warm. One form of support available across Great Britain is the Warm Home Discount (WHD) — a government-backed scheme that provides a £150 reduction on electricity bills for eligible households.
For winter 2025/26, the scheme runs from October 2025 until 31 March 2026.
The Warm Home Discount is not paid as cash. Instead, the £150 is applied directly to your electricity account or issued as a credit or voucher, depending on how you pay for your energy.
Key Details for the Winter 2025/26 Warm Home Discount Scheme
- Discount amount: £150 (one-off reduction)
- When it’s applied: October 2025 – 31 March 2026
- Provided by: Participating electricity suppliers
- Available in: England, Wales and Scotland
- Not available in: Northern Ireland
Receiving the Warm Home Discount does not affect eligibility for other government support, including:
- Winter Fuel Payment
- Cold Weather Payment
Who Can Qualify for the Warm Home Discount?
England and Wales
For winter 2025/26, the eligibility rules in England and Wales have been widened so more households can benefit.
In most cases, you may qualify if:
- You are a customer of a participating electricity supplier
- The electricity bill is in your name (or your partner’s name)
- You fall into one of the following groups.
Core Group 1
Households receiving the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit.
Core Group 2
Households on a lower income who receive certain means-tested benefits, such as:
- Universal Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
For winter 2025/26, the previous requirement that households must have high heating costs has been removed in England and Wales. This change means more people receiving qualifying benefits may now be automatically eligible.
Eligibility in Scotland
The scheme works slightly differently in Scotland.
Core Group
Pensioners receiving the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit usually receive the discount automatically.
Broader Group
Some low-income households receiving other qualifying benefits may need to apply directly through their electricity supplier, depending on their circumstances.
How You Receive the Warm Home Discount
Most households do not need to apply.
If you qualify automatically, you should receive a letter from the government between November 2025 and January 2026 confirming that you will receive the discount.
If you believe you are eligible but haven’t received a letter by mid-January 2026, you should contact the helpline before 28 February 2026.
Warm Home Discount Helpline:
📞 0800 030 9322
Prepayment Meters and Park Homes
Prepayment Meters
If you use a prepayment meter, the discount is usually provided as:
- A voucher that can be redeemed at a Post Office or PayPoint, or
- Credit is added directly to your meter, depending on your supplier.
Park Homes
If you live in a park home and pay the site owner for electricity:
- You may still qualify for the scheme
- However, you will usually need to apply through a separate process, as the discount cannot be added directly to a personal electricity account.
Moving Home or Switching Supplier
Switching Energy Supplier
If you qualify as part of the Core Group, the electricity supplier you were with on 24 August 2025 remains responsible for providing the £150 discount — even if you change supplier afterwards.
Moving Home
If you move house during the scheme period, make sure your previous electricity supplier has your new address, so they can send any correspondence or vouchers if needed.
How The Warm Home Discount Links to the Warm Homes Plan
The Warm Home Discount provides short-term help with winter energy bills, while wider programmes such as the Warm Homes Plan focus on long-term improvements to homes.
These longer-term measures include better insulation, energy-efficient heating systems and other upgrades that can permanently reduce energy use and heating costs.
At HEART, we help households understand the support available today while also exploring long-term solutions that make homes warmer, more efficient and more affordable to run.
Looking to Reduce Your Energy Bills, Improve Your Home’s Heating and Energy Efficiency?
Contact HEART to find out more about the Warm Home Discount or the Warm Homes Plan and register your interest today, or call HEART on 0800 520 0280 for professional advice, home surveys and installation support.