MILLIONS of households should look out for a letter which details everything they need to know about a £150 energy bill payment.
The free cash is available to help those on the lowest incomes struggling with the rising costs of energy.
Through the Warm Home Discount, households get £150 off their electricity bill each winter.
Households in England and Wales don’t need to apply to get the cash and they’ll automatically qualify if they were receiving certain benefits on or before Sunday, August 21.
It’s up to individual energy companies to decide when they will give their customers the discount.
And to ensure that energy customers know that they’re eligible for the cash, the government is sending out letters on behalf of energy firms.
Eligible households should automatically receive a confirmation letter between November 2022 and mid-January 2022 – so keep an eye out.
Several households have already posted on Facebook to say that they’ve already had the letter land on their door mats.
Customers can also check on the government website to see if they’re eligible for the discount even if they haven’t received a letter yet.
But those that think they’re eligible for the Warm Home Discount are being urged to wait until mid-January before getting in touch through the government’s hotline.
At this point, households should call the Warm Home Discount hotline on 0800 107 8002 before 28 February 2023.
What is the Warm Home Discount?
The Warm Home Discount is an automatic £150 discount on energy bills.
You’ll need to be a recipient of one or more of the following benefits to qualify:
- Income support
- Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
- Income-related employment and support allowance
- Housing benefit
- Universal credit
- Child tax credit
- Working tax credits
- Pension credit guaranteed
- Pension credit savings credit
If you weren’t claiming any of the above benefits on August 21 you won’t be eligible for the payment.
How do I secure the discount in Scotland?
The Scottish Government has refused to renew its Warm Home Discount scheme in line with England and Wales’ new application-free scheme.
Households in Scotland will have to follow the rules set out in the legacy scheme.
This means they’ll likely still be a “core group” that’ll receive an automatic payment and a “broader group” who’ll have to apply for the scheme with their energy provider.
You’ll need to check with your energy supplier directly to see the eligibility requirement and details on how to apply.
Is it different from cold weather payments?
Yes. You may still be able to get a cold weather payment as well as the Warm Home Discount.
The cold weather payment is a £25 payout to benefits claimants when temperatures in their area fall below zero degrees Celsius for seven consecutive days between November and March.
You don’t need to apply for the cold weather payment as it’s paid automatically.
But you can check online to see if you can get a payment in your area.
