Warm Home Discount (WHD)

This scheme runs in England, Scotland and Wales. The scheme will reopen in Autumn 2026.  

Eligibility criteria are different for Scotland compared to England and Wales. 

The qualifying benefits will be confirmed in the eligibility statement issued by DESNZ for any given Scheme Year.   

Supplier obligations  

Participating suppliers are obligated to provide a £150 rebate for those who fall under the core group criteria, such as low-income households and pensioners. 

The Department for Work and Pensions work with participating suppliers to identify those who receive Pension Credit and Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit. 

Most eligible Core Group customers are identified in this way and could automatically receive their discount between October and March. We expect suppliers to provide rebates as early as possible within the winter period. 

In most cases suppliers must provide the Core Groups and Broader Group discounts by 31 March of each scheme year.  

If a consumer applies for the Scotland Warm Homes Discount rebate through the Broader Group eligibility, suppliers must ensure that customer is not eligible for the rebate via the Core Group or the customer is not a former Core Group customer.

Who is eligible for the automatic core group rebate in England and Wales 

Participating suppliers are obligated to provide a direct discount of £150 for those eligible into their electricity or gas account.  

People are eligible for the discount if they or their partner receives a qualifying benefit: 

• Income related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income Support
• Universal Credit
• Housing benefit
• Pension Credit Savings Credit (PCSC) 

Most eligible Core Group customers are given a one-off annual discount on their electricity bill between October and March. 

Queries related to eligibility and payments are best directed to your energy supplier.  

Who is eligible for the automatic core group rebate in Scotland 

Participating suppliers are obligated to provide a direct discount of £150 for those eligible into their electricity account.  

You are eligible for the discount if you or your partner receives a qualifying core group benefit, your supplier is participating in the scheme or qualify for any additional criteria. 

Core group criteria apply to those in Scotland who receive: 

• State pension credit
• Universal credit
• Income support or Income based jobseekers Allowance
• Income Related Employment Support Allowance
• Support for Mortgage Interest  

The core group criteria is based on a variation of the Cold Weather Payments eligibility. 

If you live in Scotland, purchase your energy from a participating supplier and believe you were eligible for this discount which you have not received, contact the Warm Home Discount helpline. 

Who is eligible for the Scottish Broader Group 

The Broader Group assists certain low-income households in Scotland, with an annual direct rebate of £150 to their electricity account. 

Broader Group criteria apply to those in Scotland who receive: 

• A person who receives Pension Age Disability payment
• A person who receives adult disability payment   
• A person who receives Universal Credit
• A person who receives Income support   
• A person who receives Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• A person who receives Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• A person who receives Housing Benefits  

Supplier obligations towards Industry Initiatives 

Each participating supplier has a spending obligation towards Industry Initiatives. This allows them to help customers who are fuel poor or at risk of fuel poverty through a variety of activities and third parties. 

Depending on the supplier’s programme and third-party provider, this can include benefit entitlement checks, debt assistance, energy advice, smart meter advice and energy efficiency measures. 

Eligible customers may be able to benefit under the Industry Initiative element of the scheme even if they don’t buy your energy from a participating supplier.  

To find out more contact any participating supplier about the Industry Initiatives they offer, note that you don’t have to be an existing customer.  

If you have any questions on how the Industry Initiative elements operate, you can contact Ofgem at whd@ofgem.gov.uk. 

Participating suppliers for the Warm Home Discount scheme 

Compulsory suppliers 

We anticipate the following energy suppliers will be compulsory participants of the WHD scheme in 2026 to 2027:  

• Centrica plc
• E (Gas & Electricity) Ltd
• E.ON SE
• Ecotricity Group Limited
• EDF
• Esb Group (UK) Limited
• Foxglove Energy supply limited
• Fuse Energy Supply Limited
• Good Energy
• Green Energy (UK) Ltd
• Home Energy Trading Ltd
• Iberdrola SA
• Octopus Energy Limited
• OVO Energy Ltd
• Square1 Energy Limited
• Telecom Plus
• Tru Energy Limited
• Utilita Group Limited 

Some obligated energy suppliers work with ‘white label’ energy providers who themselves do not hold a licence to supply electricity and gas to domestic properties. Instead, they partner with the licensed supplier to offer gas and electricity using its own brand. This means that those white label providers also offer the Warm Home Discount to their customers.  

When will I get my discount?  

In most cases suppliers must provide the Core Groups and Broader Group discounts by 31 March of each scheme year. We encourage suppliers to provide Core Group discounts over the winter months as far as possible to help consumers when they need it most.  

How is the discount delivered?  

Customers on a direct debit are credited £150 to their electricity account or if requested by a customer, to their gas account.  

Customers that prepay for electricity or gas are credited against future energy use.  

Some customers, for example prepayment meter customers or Core Group customers who have since switched supplier, may receive their discount via a voucher or cheque. In most cases, vouchers can be redeemed at a Post Office or PayPoint shop (however this may vary depending on your supplier).   
  

What should I do if I think I should be getting the Warm Home Discount but haven’t received a letter?  

If you are eligible for the Core Group in England Wales or Core Group in Scotland, you should receive a letter from the Government between November and December. Most eligible households will receive the discount automatically. Your letter will say if you need to call the government helpline to confirm eligibility. The helpline will be open from mid-November until the end of February each scheme year.  

If you think you should be eligible for a discount under the Core Groups, but have not received a letter contact the Warm Home Discount team. Contact details can be found on our Contacts, Guidance and Resources page.  

Your supplier may invite you to apply directly for the Broader Group in Scotland if they think you may be eligible. They should also make details of the eligibility available, for instance on their website. If you think you should be eligible for the discount under the Broader Group, please contact your supplier for details about their Broader Group scheme.  

If you have been told you are eligible for a discount during 2024 to 2025 but have not received it by the end of March 2025, or for any other payment issues, contact your energy supplier.  

You can also contact the Energy Saving Trust for advice on saving energy and eligibility for support, and Citizens Advice and Simple Energy Advice for information on saving money on energy bills.  

Finally, there is more information on the support for consumers on Understanding your electricity and gas bills, including how to switch suppliers.  

Will I still receive my rebate if I switch suppliers?  

Core Group  

If you were with a participating supplier on the qualifying date for a scheme year and were eligible under the Core Group, the supplier you were with will be instructed to pay you. You should contact the supplier you were with on the qualifying date to check they still have your contact details and to ask how and when you will be paid the discount or receive the voucher.  

If you were not with a participating supplier on the qualifying date and you have switched to a participating supplier after that date, you will not receive the discount for that scheme year.  

The qualifying date for the 2026 to 2027 scheme year will be set out in eligibility statement issued by DESNZ.  

Broader Group in Scotland  

If you are eligible to receive the WHD discount with your current supplier and are thinking about changing suppliers, you may wish to check that the supplier you are considering moving to also participates in the WHD scheme and that you are eligible.  

If you are successful in applying for a Broader Group discount with one energy supplier, we would suggest you wait until you have received the discount before switching to a new supplier.  

Ofgem’s Confidence Code is a code of practice that governs independent energy price comparison sites. This means that sites covered by the Code must inform you whether the supplier you are considering moving to participate in the WHD scheme or not.  

I live in a park home am I eligible?  

Yes, those living in park homes can apply for the Park Home WHD discount. This has been established as an Industry Initiative project.  

You can apply for the Park Homes WHD discount if you are resident on a park home site and pay for your electricity through your park, or as part of your pitch fees. If successful, customers will receive a one-off payment of £150 towards their energy bills. This scheme is independently administered by Charis Grants Limited.  

Funding for the Park Home WHD scheme is limited and all applications are reviewed in order of date received up until the scheme closes.  

For more information please visit the Charis Grants website.  

You can read more about our administration of the England and Wales WHD scheme for SY12 to 15 in our guidance: WHD Guidance for England and Wales, and on our Scotland WHD for SY12 to 15 in our WHD Scotland Guidance.