Warm Home Discount — £150 off
The Warm Home Discount gives eligible households a one-off £150 discount on their electricity bill each winter. Most people who qualify get it automatically — the money comes off your bill without you applying.
- It's aimed at people on means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Income Support.
- If you think you qualify but haven't received it, contact your supplier — some smaller suppliers have their own application process.
- The discount usually lands between October and March.
Grants that cut your bills for good
The ECO scheme (Energy Company Obligation) requires larger suppliers to fund energy-efficiency upgrades — insulation, better heating, and similar measures — for eligible low-income homes. Unlike a discount, this permanently lowers what you use.
- Eligibility usually depends on your benefits and your home's energy efficiency rating.
- Your supplier or local council can tell you what's available in your area.
- Grants don't need to be repaid — be wary of anyone asking for upfront fees to 'unlock' one.
Your supplier has to help
If you're struggling to pay, your supplier has formal obligations. Use them:
- Ask for an affordable payment plan — they must offer one based on what you can actually pay.
- Ask about their hardship fund or fuel vouchers; most large suppliers run one.
- Request a prepayment meter review if yours is leaving you self-disconnecting.
- Get everything in writing and keep copies of every agreement.
Free advice if you're overwhelmed
Citizens Advice, StepChange and National Debtline all offer free, confidential help with energy debt — including negotiating with your supplier and checking every benefit and grant you're entitled to. Your local council may also run emergency support schemes for energy costs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Warm Home Discount?
A one-off £150 discount applied to your electricity bill (or gas, if your supplier provides both through the same account) for eligible low-income households. You don't apply in most cases — eligible households are identified automatically.
Who qualifies for help with energy bills?
It depends on the scheme: the Warm Home Discount targets people on certain means-tested benefits, ECO grants focus on low-income homes with poor energy efficiency, and supplier hardship funds each set their own criteria. Check each scheme directly.
What should I do if I'm in debt to my energy supplier?
Contact them immediately. Suppliers must work with you on an affordable repayment plan, and many run hardship funds or fuel vouchers for customers in difficulty. Don't ignore it — the debt won't go away and extra charges pile up.
Where can I get free advice about energy debt?
Citizens Advice offers free, confidential help with energy bills and debt. StepChange and National Debtline also give free debt advice across the UK.
Keep reading
Related: practical ways to use less energy and pay less each month.