Warm Home Discount Scheme 2022: what is it, who is eligible, how to apply and which energy companies offer it?

Households could shave £140 off their energy bill through the Warm Home Discount Scheme offered by firms including British Gas, Eon, Scottish Power, Octopus Energy, EDF and SSE
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Households struggling to meet their energy bills can apply for financial support.

The Warm Home Discount Scheme offers households on low to medium income a one off saving on their electricity or gas bill.

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People in receipt of the guarantee credit part of Pension Credit could also be eligible for the saving on the Warm Home Discount Scheme.

Anyone who ticks either of those boxes is advised to check with your supplier to see if it offers the Warm Home Discount Scheme, as not all suppliers are part of the scheme.

Rishi Sunak expanded the eligibility for people to apply for the discount following a 54% rise in the energy price cap, pushing the limit to £1,971 a year for the average household.

Here's all you need to know about how the Warm Home Discount Scheme works, who is eligible and which energy suppliers offer the saving.

How does the Warm Home Discount Scheme work?

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Households could shave £140 off their energy bill through the Warm Home Discount Scheme.

Unlike other government support, such as the Winter Fuel Payment, the money is not paid to individuals but a discount on either the electricity or gas bill between October and March.

It is a discount predominantly used to make savings on electricity bills, however, if your provider supplies both gas and electricity then you could get a discount on your gas bill.

The Warm Home Discount Scheme will not affect your Cold Weather Payment or Winter Fuel Payment.

Who is eligible for the Warm Home Discount Scheme?

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The Warm Home Discount Scheme is in place to support people on low income or if you receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit.

You will be placed in either the broader group or the core group, respectively, by your energy provider.

How you apply for the Warm Home Discount Scheme depends on how you qualify for the discount.

If you are part of the broader group then make contact with your energy provider to see if you are eligible for the discount - it is this group that has had its criteria expanded to meet more households as energy prices skyrocket.

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If you are part of the core group then check to see if your provider is part of the scheme, have proof your name, or partner's name, on the bill and if you're getting Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit. Applicants part of the core group will receive a letter between October and December 2021 with further instructions.

If you use a pre pay or pay as you go electricity meter then you can still apply and your supplier will inform you how to receive the discount. Ie. voucher to top up meter.

Which energy companies offer Warm Home Discount Scheme?

The following suppliers were part of the scheme in winter 2020 to 2021 though some may have ceased trading due to the wholesale gas price hike:

  • Affect Energy – see Octopus Energy
  • Atlantic – see SSE
  • Avro Energy
  • Boost
  • Bristol Energy - only if you’re eligible for the ‘core group’
  • British Gas
  • British Gas Evolve (formerly British Gas X)
  • Bulb Energy
  • Co-op Energy - see Octopus Energy
  • E (Gas and Electricity)
  • E.ON
  • Ecotricity - only if you’re eligible for the ‘core group’
  • EDF Energy
  • Green Energy UK (GEUK) - only if you’re eligible for the ‘core group’
  • Green Network Energy
  • Green Star Energy - see Shell Energy
  • iSupply Energy - see EDF Energy
  • London Power – see Octopus Energy
  • Lumo - see OVO
  • M&S Energy – see Octopus Energy
  • npower
  • nPower Select - see E.ON Next
  • Octopus Energy
  • OVO
  • Powershop
  • Pure Planet
  • Qwest Energy - see Octopus Energy
  • Roar Power - see Octopus Energy
  • Sainsbury’s Energy
  • Scottish Hydro – see SSE
  • ScottishPower
  • Shell Energy
  • So Energy
  • Southern Electric – see SSE
  • Spark
  • SSE
  • Swalec – see SSE
  • Symbio Energy
  • Tonik Energy - see ScottishPower
  • Utilita
  • Utility Point - only if you’re eligible for the core group
  • Utility Warehouse

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