DWP issues urgent Warm Home Discount deadline warning…

DWP issues urgent Warm Home Discount deadline warning to eligible claimants

A deadline warning has been issued by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for those who are eligible to the Warm Home Discount scheme.

The DWP has encouraged those who are eligible for the scheme to sign up before it is too late, as the deadline date is confirmed for Friday, November 18. The Warm Home Discount is aimed at households on low income, on certain benefits, and they must meet their own energy suppliers eligibility criteria as well.

Eligible claimants can get £150 off their electricity or gas bill for winter 2022 under this scheme. It is a one-off payment to your energy supplier between the months of October 2022 and March 2023.

You could also be eligible to get money off your gas bill instead, if your supplier provides you with both services. In order to find out more, contact your supplier.

Eligibility criteria for the Warm Home Discount scheme can be found below.

Eligibility Criteria

If you live in Scotland, you qualify if you either:

get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit - known as the ‘core group’
are on a low income and meet your energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme - known as the ‘broader group’

Applying for the scheme depends on how you qualify for the discount, which includes means-tested benefits. These qualifying benefits are as follows:

Housing Benefit
income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
Income Support
the ‘Savings Credit’ part of Pension Credit
Universal Credit
Child Tax Credit
Working Tax Credit

How do I apply for the scheme?

For those on Pension Credit, you qualify for the discount if:

your energy supplier is part of the scheme

your name (or your partner’s) is on the bill

you or your partner are getting the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit (even if you get Savings Credit as well)

In Scotland, this is known as being within the 'core group'. The scheme will open for these people on November 14, 2022.

You should receive a letter between November 2022 and January 2023 that informs you about what discount you will get. It should be automatically applied to your bill.

However, the letter will tell you if you need to call a helpline by February 28, 2023 to confirm your details. If you’re eligible, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill by March 31 2023.

For those who are on a low income, but do not get Pension Credit, you may be able to apply to your supplier directly. The following criteria must apply:

your energy supplier is part of the scheme
you (or your partner) get certain means-tested benefits or tax credits
your name (or your partner’s) is on the bill

To get the discount you’ll need to stay with your supplier until it’s paid.

Those on pre-payment or pay as you go meters can qualify for a voucher to top up your meter. Contact your supplier to find out if you are eligible.

You apply a different way if you live in a park home.

Applications for winter 2022 to 2023 open in September. Find out how to apply for the Park Homes Warm Home Discount here.