Millions of households will receive a £150 discount on heating: who is eligible.

Hundreds of thousands of households will receive an electricity discount

According to The Sun: This winter, millions of households will receive a £150 discount on electricity thanks to changes to the Warm Home Programme.

The programme, which supports low-income households, has expanded its eligibility criteria in England and Wales by removing the 'hard to heat' rule.

Previously, to qualify for assistance, families in England and Wales needed to have certain benefits and live in homes with low energy efficiency ratings, such as D, E, F, or G, except for those already receiving guaranteed pension credit.

This meant some low-income families with more energy-efficient homes were unable to receive support last year.

The removal of the 'hard to heat' requirement now automatically qualifies more people for the programme.

Approximately 2.7 million households, including 900,000 families with children, may receive this discount, bringing the total number of households eligible for assistance to six million.

This change aims to create a fairer programme and provide vital support during the cold months.

Residents of England and Wales do not need to apply to participate in the programme, while residents in Scotland will need to do so.

From October to December, the government will send letters to households that qualify for financial aid.

However, to be eligible for the discount, households must have been receiving one of nine income-tested benefits on a specified date—August 24:

• Guaranteed pension credit
• Income support
• Income-based jobseeker's allowance
• Income-based employment and support allowance
• Housing benefit
• Universal credit
• Pension credit 'savings credit'

If you did not receive any of these benefits as of August 24, 2025, you will not be eligible for the payment.

However, even if you did not receive pension credit on the qualification date, there is a possibility of receiving additional funds later.

Your entitlement to some benefits may be backdated.

For example, successful pension credit applications may be backdated by three months, while universal credit applications may be backdated by one month.

Approximately 700,000 older people who are eligible for pension credit do not receive it.

What is pension credit and how to apply?

PENSION credit raises 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 amount, you are likely eligible for this assistance.

Even if your income is slightly above this, you may still qualify for pension credit if you have a disability, care for someone, or have housing costs.

You can receive an additional £82.90 per week if you have a disability or receive one of the following benefits:

• Care allowance
• Middle or highest rate of the care component of disability living allowance (DLA)
• Daily living component of personal independence payment (PIP)
• Independence payment for veterans
• Daily living component of adult disability payment (ADP) at standard or enhanced rate.

You may receive part of the 'savings credit' of pension credit if both conditions are met:

• You reached state pension age before April 6, 2016
• You have saved money for retirement, such as in a private or company pension fund

This part of the pension credit is £17.30 for single individuals or £19.36 for couples.

Applying for pension credit also opens access to a range of free services and discounts.

For example, pension credit recipients over 75 years old are entitled to a free TV license worth up to £174.50 per year.

Additional payments of £25 per week during cold weather and £150 for the Warm Home Discount are dependent on receiving pension credit.

Pension credit applications can be made on the government website or by calling the pension credit helpline at 0800 99 1234.

What to do if I live in Scotland?

In Scotland, there is a 'core group' that will receive automatic payment, as well as a 'wider group' that needs to apply through their energy supplier.

Contact your energy supplier directly to find out about the requirements and details of the application process.

It is expected that the number of applicants will exceed the availability of places, so apply to your energy supplier as soon as possible.

What help with energy bills is available?

There are several ways to receive assistance with paying energy bills if you are facing financial difficulties.

If you find yourself in debt, contact your supplier to arrange a repayment plan before being switched to a prepayment meter.

This involves repaying the debt in installments over a set period.

If your supplier offers a plan that you cannot afford, contact them again to negotiate better terms.

Many energy companies have assistance programmes for customers struggling to pay bills.

However, eligibility for these programmes may vary by supplier, and the amount of assistance depends on your financial circumstances.

For example, customers of British Gas or Scottish Gas who struggle to pay their energy bills may receive grants of up to £2,000.

British Gas also provides assistance through its Energy Fund and Family Fund.

You do not need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the latter fund.

EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power also offer grants for customers facing difficulties.

Many vulnerable households miss out on assistance and support by not signing up for the Priority Services Register (PSR).

This service supports vulnerable households, such as the elderly or those with illnesses.

Some benefits include advance warnings of power outages, free gas safety checks, and additional support for those in difficulty.

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

Thus, the new changes in the Warm Home Programme significantly expand opportunities to receive electricity discounts aimed at supporting the most vulnerable households. This will help many families reduce energy costs and get through the winter months with less financial hardship.

It is important to pay attention to the eligibility criteria for the programme and not miss out on opportunities to receive help with bills, as every bit of assistance is crucial for ensuring comfort during the cold season.