Warm Home Discount 2026 - who qualifies and which energy suppliers

The Warm Home Discount Scheme is set to reopen in this month, giving eligible households another chance to get help with their energy bills over winter.

The scheme is available in England, Wales and Scotland, although the eligibility rules differ depending on where you live.

For winter 2026 to 2027, households can check whether they qualify and whether their electricity supplier is taking part.

Although the scheme hasn't opened yet, eligibility criteria are already listed on GOV.UK here.

Who can get the Warm Home Discount?

In England and Wales, you may qualify if, on 23 August 2026, all three of the following applied:

• Your electricity supplier is part of the Warm Home Discount Scheme.
• You or your partner received a qualifying means-tested benefit.
• Your name or your partner’s name was on the electricity bill.

This is known as being in the core group.

The qualifying benefits are:

• Universal Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Pension Credit

If you qualify, your supplier will apply the discount directly to your bill. The money is not paid directly to you.

Scotland has different rules

Households in Scotland can also qualify, but some people will need to apply directly to their electricity supplier.

You should receive the discount automatically if you or your partner meet certain conditions, including receiving Pension Credit or qualifying disability-related additions to Universal Credit or income-related ESA.

Some households with a child under five who normally lives with them may also qualify automatically, provided they meet the relevant benefit and other conditions.

If you do not qualify for automatic support, you may be able to apply through your supplier. This is known as the broader group.

Suppliers can set additional eligibility criteria, so check directly with your electricity company to find out whether you can apply and which benefits count.

Which energy suppliers are taking part?

The following suppliers are listed as participating in the Warm Home Discount Scheme for winter 2026 to 2027:

• 100Green
• Boost
• British Gas
• E
• Ecotricity
• EDF
• E.ON Next
• Fuse Energy
• Good Energy
• Home Energy
• London Power
• Octopus Energy
• Outfox Energy
• OVO
• Sainsbury’s Energy
• ScottishPower
• So Energy
• Square 1 Energy Ltd
• TruEnergy
• Tulo Energy
• Utilita
• Utility Warehouse

EnergyCoop is listed under Octopus Energy, while Scottish Gas is listed under British Gas.

If your electricity supplier stops trading, you may still be eligible. Ofgem will appoint a replacement supplier, and you should contact the new company to check your eligibility.

Missed last winter’s discount? You may still be able to get help

Households who were confirmed as eligible for the 2025 to 2026 scheme but did not receive their discount by 31 March 2026 should contact their electricity supplier.

You will need confirmation that you qualified. This could have come in a letter from the Warm Home Discount Scheme, from its helpline or through an application to your electricity supplier if you were in Scotland and on a low income.

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If your supplier cannot resolve the issue, you can write to the Warm Home Discount Scheme at:

Warm Home Discount Scheme
PO Box 970
Preston
PR2 0FX

Include your name, address and date of birth, your confirmation letter reference number if you have one, your electricity supplier and account number, and the name of the person listed on the electricity bill on 24 August 2025 if it was different from yours.

With the scheme due to reopen in October, households should check the rules for their part of the UK and contact their supplier if they are unsure whether they qualify.