Martin Lewis encouraged householders receiving their gas and electricity from three energy firms to claim the Warm Home Discount Scheme during the latest edition of his weekly television consumer programme.
Martin told viewers of The Money Show Live: “Are you a customer of Bulb, E.on or So Energy? Their Warm Home Discounts are still open - that’s £140 towards people on low income.”
He also explained that people of a certain age instantly qualify for the UK Government-backed scheme. He said: “If you’re on Guaranteed Credit element of Pension Credit, you get it automatically, you don’t need to apply - but the broader group must apply.”
The financial guru added that eligibility for the saving varies by supplier and generally applies to people on means-tested benefits including Jobseeker’s Allowance, Universal Credit and Income Support.
He also shared that customers of Together Energy and Bristol Energy, which went bust last week, are being moved on to British Gas on the price cap tariff.
Am I eligible for the Warm Home Discount?
There are two ways to qualify for the Warm Home Discount Scheme:
- You get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit - known as the ‘core group’
- You’re on a low income and meet your energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme - known as the ‘broader group’
How you apply for the Warm Home Discount Scheme depends on how you qualify for the discount.
Pre-pay or pay-as-you-go meters
You can still qualify for the discount if you use a pre-pay or pay-as-you-go electricity meter.
Your electricity supplier can tell you how you will get the discount if you’re eligible, for example a voucher you can use to top up your meter.
How to apply
Your electricity supplier decides who can get the discount.
The number of discounts suppliers can give is limited. Check with your supplier as early as possible to see if you’re eligible and how to apply - check with them even if you were eligible for a discount last year.
Your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill by March 31, 2022.
Energy suppliers taking part in the scheme
Below is the list of current energy suppliers participating in the Warm Home Discount scheme, however, this may change, but the most recent list can be found on the GOV.UK website here.
- Affect Energy
- Atlantic
- Boost
- Bristol Energy - only if you’re eligible for the ‘core group’
- British Gas
- British Gas Evolve (formerly British Gas X)
- Bulb Energy - UK Government is bailing Bulb out
- Co-op Energy
- E (Gas and Electricity)
- E.ON
- E.ON Next
- Ebico
- Ecotricity - only if you’re eligible for the ‘core group’
- EDF Energy
- ESb Energy
- Green Energy UK (GEUK)
- London Power
- M&S Energy
- Nabuh Energy
- Octopus Energy
- Outfox The Market
- OVO
- Rebel Energy
- Sainsbury’s Energy
- Scottish Gas
- Scottish Hydro
- ScottishPower
- Shell Energy Retail
- So Energy
- Southern Electric
- SSE
- Swalec
- Utilita
- Utility Warehouse
The following suppliers were part of the scheme but are no longer trading:
- Avro Energy
- Bristol Energy
- Green – ‘core group’ only
- Igloo Energy – ‘core group’ only
- People’s Energy
- Pure Planet
- Together Energy
- Utility Point
If your energy supplier is no longer trading
If the electricity supplier you were with stops trading, you may still be eligible for a Warm Home Discount - Ofgem will appoint your new supplier for you.
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