Octopus Energy to pay £150 to 150,000 customers: who will receive help from October.

According to The Sun: The largest energy supplier in the UK, serving 7.3 million customers, will begin payments of £150 to 150,000 of its consumers from next month.

Octopus Energy is implementing additional payments under the Warm Home Discount scheme to help customers reduce their energy costs this winter.

Octopus Energy will start payments of the Warm Home Discount to thousands of its customers from next month Rex

The company indicated that payments will begin in October.

All users who meet the criteria will receive a discount on their electricity bills by no later than March 31, 2026.

This year, the Warm Home Discount scheme has expanded by abolishing the 'hard to heat' rule in England and Wales.

Low-income families receiving certain types of social benefits can now apply for a discount without having low energy efficiency in their homes.

This change will allow 2.7 million new households, including 900,000 families with children, to receive a £150 payment, increasing the total number of households eligible for this support to six million.

From October to December, the government will send letters to households eligible to participate in the scheme.

To qualify for the discount, you must have one of nine social benefits as of August 24:

• Guaranteed Pension Credit
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
• Housing Benefit
• Universal Credit
• Part of Pension Credit 'Savings Credit'

You may also be eligible if your household income is below a certain threshold and you receive:

• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit

If you were not receiving any of these benefits by August 24, 2025, you will not be eligible for the payment.

However, even if you were not receiving the pension credit at the qualifying moment, there is a way for you to receive additional money later.

This means your eligibility for certain benefits may be backdated.

For example, successful applications for Pension Credit can be backdated by three months.

Universal Credit appointments can be backdated by one month.

About 700,000 pensioners may be entitled to Pension Credit but are not taking advantage of this opportunity.

What is Pension Credit and how to claim it?

PENSION Credit boosts your weekly income to £227.10 if you are single or £346.60 if you have a partner.

This is known as 'guaranteed credit'.

If your income is below this level, you may be able to claim this benefit.

However, even if your income is slightly higher, you may still be entitled to Pension Credit if you have a disability or care for someone with a disability.

You may receive an extra £82.90 per week if you have a disability or receive any of the following benefits:

• Attendance Allowance
• Standard or Enhanced Rate Care Component of Disability Benefit
• Daily Living Component of Personal Independence Payment
• Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
• Daily Living Component of Disability Living Allowance at the standard or enhanced rate.

You may receive part of the Pension Credit 'Savings Credit' if both of the following apply:

• You reached state pension age by April 6, 2016
• You have saved money for your retirement, such as a personal or workplace pension

This part of Pension Credit is worth £17.30 for single people or £19.36 for couples.

Applying for Pension Credit also opens the door to various free services and discounts.

For example, Pension Credit claimants over 75 are entitled to a free TV license worth up to £174.50 per year.

Applications for this benefit also allow you to receive cold weather payments of £25 per week and a £150 Warm Home Discount.

Applications for Pension Credit can be made on the government website or by calling the Pension Credit helpline at 0800 99 1234.

We have prepared all the necessary information about the Octopus Energy scheme below.

Do I need to apply for the discount?

Customers in England and Wales do not need to apply to receive the money - payments will be made automatically.

Expect a letter between October 2025 and early January 2026 with the message:

• You are eligible, and the discount will be applied automatically; or
• You may be eligible and need to provide more information.
• The letter will instruct you to call the helpline by February 27, 2026, to confirm your information.

If you do not receive a letter by early January 2026 and believe you are eligible, call the helpline at 0800 030 9322.

If you are eligible, your energy supplier will apply the discount to your bill by March 31, 2026.

The Warm Home Discount is available regardless of the energy supplier.

If you are not a customer of Octopus, make sure to contact your supplier to find out how and when you will receive the payment.

For residents of Scotland, you may need to apply for the Warm Home Discount.

In Scotland, there is a 'core group' that will receive automatic payments and a 'wider group' that needs to apply to their energy supplier.

Check with your energy supplier to learn about eligibility requirements and application details.

As the scheme has more applicants than places, we recommend applying as soon as possible.

Customers of Octopus Energy can apply by visiting octopus.energy/blog/warm-home-discount/.

How will I receive the discount from Octopus Energy?

If you pay by direct debit or receive a bill, the £150 Warm Home Discount will be added to your electricity bill as a credit.

If you have a traditional prepaid meter, Octopus Energy will send you a voucher that you can use to top up your meter at the nearest Paypoint location.

You can find your nearest location at consumer.paypoint.com/cashout.

If you have a smart prepaid meter, Octopus Energy will send the discount directly to your meter as a credit.

After that, you will receive an email confirming that the funds are already in your account.

What energy bill assistance is available?

There are several different ways to receive assistance with your energy bills if you are struggling.

If you are in debt, contact your supplier to see if they can offer a repayment plan before switching to a prepaid meter.

This involves paying off the debt in installments over a specified period.

If you have a repayment plan that you are unsure about, contact them again for better terms.

Many energy companies have programs for customers facing payment issues.

However, eligibility requirements may vary depending on the supplier, and the amount of assistance depends on your financial situation.

Customers of British Gas or Scottish Gas who are struggling to pay may receive grants of up to £2000.

British Gas also provides assistance through the British Gas Energy Trust and the Individuals Family Fund.

You do not have to be a customer of British Gas to apply for the second fund.

EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy, and Scottish Power also provide grants for customers in financial difficulties.

Many vulnerable households do not use additional assistance without connecting to the Priority Services Register (PSR).

This service supports vulnerable households, including the elderly and those with illnesses.

Some benefits include warnings about power cuts, free gas safety checks, and additional support in case of hardship.

Contact your energy supplier to find out if you can apply.

Octopus Energy has announced a new initiative to help its consumers, which may be especially relevant amid rising energy costs. Payments under the Warm Home Discount scheme will provide support for many Ukrainian families, addressing the challenge of increased financial burden in heating homes. The program will significantly expand the circle of people who can receive assistance, which will undoubtedly have a positive impact on many individuals.