Thousands of energy customers could receive a £150 discount on their energy bills via the Warm Home Discount scheme.
It is designed to help those in need stay warm throughout the winter months. The one-off discount is applied to one’s electricity bill between early October 2023 and March 31, 2024.
Anyone who is eligible should receive a letting in the post by early January.
However, the DWP has warned that anyone who thinks they should get the discount but has not received a letter by February 29 needs to contact officials if they do not want to miss out.
Eligibility and the process of applying for the payment vary depending on whether someone lives in England, Wales or Scotland.
The Government expanded and reformed the scheme in England and Wales last year, aiming to “better target fuel poverty” and to provide the “vast majority” of rebates automatically.
People must be on specific low-income benefits and living in a property that has high energy costs, based on its age, type and size.
Last year, the scheme was totally revamped and this saw the list of qualifying benefits rewritten, with disability allowances such Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and Attendance Allowance removed, excluding around 210,000 people on disability benefits, according to Disability Rights UK.
However, Housing Benefit was added for the first time.
If someone lived in either Wales or England, they qualified for the scheme if they either:
- received the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit – known as ‘core group 1’
- were on a low income and had high energy costs – known as ‘core group 2’
Others who may be eligible are in Core Group 2. They would need to be receiving any of the following eight types of low-income benefits:
- Universal Credit
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income Support
- Housing Benefit
- Savings Credit element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
A spokesperson for DWP said: “If you do not get a letter and you think you’re eligible, you must contact the Warm Home Discount Scheme before 29 February 2024.
“You may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead if your supplier provides you with both gas and electricity and you’re eligible. Contact your supplier to find out.
“The discount will not affect your Cold Weather Payment or Winter Fuel Payment.”
Those living in Scotland were eligible if they either:
- received the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit – known as the ‘core group’
- were on a low income and met their energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme – known as the ‘broader group’
The Scheme opened October 16, 2023.
