The Warm Home Discount is a one-off £150 energy-bill credit for eligible households. This guide explains the confirmed 2026/27 rules and the different process in England, Wales and Scotland.
Warm Home Discount 2026/27: quick answer
For winter 2026 to 2027, the Warm Home Discount is a one-off £150 credit on an eligible household's electricity bill. GOV.UK says the scheme will reopen in October 2026. Most eligible households receive it automatically, but some people in Scotland need to apply directly to their supplier. Eligibility is not guaranteed until the scheme rules and supplier participation are confirmed.
How the £150 discount works
The Warm Home Discount reduces an eligible customer's energy account by £150. The electricity supplier applies the credit to the bill; it is not paid to the household as cash and does not need to be repaid.
The discount does not affect Cold Weather Payments or Winter Fuel Payments. It is bill support rather than funding for insulation, heating or other home improvements.
England and Wales eligibility
For winter 2026 to 2027, GOV.UK says a household may be eligible if all of the following apply on 23 August 2026:
- the electricity supplier participates in the scheme;
- the billpayer or their partner receives Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, or Pension Credit; and
- the bill is in the name of that person or their partner.
This is the core group. If the conditions are met, the electricity supplier applies the discount to the bill. The payment is not automatic for every person receiving a listed benefit because the supplier and named-billpayer conditions also apply.
Scotland eligibility and applications
Scotland uses the same participating-supplier, qualifying-benefit and named-billpayer checkpoints on 23 August 2026, but the application process can differ. Some eligible households receive the discount automatically through the core group. Other households must apply directly to their electricity supplier through the broader group, and the supplier may use additional eligibility criteria.
People in Scotland should check their supplier's instructions rather than assume that the discount will always arrive automatically.
Prepayment meters and gas bills
Customers using prepayment or pay-as-you-go electricity meters can still qualify. The supplier will explain how an eligible customer will receive the discount.
What to check before October 2026
Before the scheme opens in October, people can check that their electricity supplier is part of the Warm Home Discount scheme and that the person receiving the qualifying benefit is named on the electricity bill.
Discount versus home-improvement grants
The Warm Home Discount is a one-off payment to help with energy bills. It is not a grant for home improvements like insulation or a new heating system. Separate schemes like the Warm Homes Plan may offer support for those measures.
Check the official scheme
The information here is for guidance only. Always check the live rules and supplier list on the official GOV.UK Warm Home Discount page.
