Warm Home Discount is reopening again this month(Image: No credit)

State pensioners set for free £150 boost that will be applied automatically

If you're eligible, you'll receive the uplift through the Warm Home Discount scheme, which is run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

by · The Mirror

Millions of state pensioners will soon receive energy help worth £150 - with the money being awarded automatically for the majority of people.

If you're eligible, you'll receive the uplift through the Warm Home Discount scheme, which is run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. The £150 is awarded as a one-off discount your electricity bill, rather than a cash payment into your bank account.

If you have a traditional prepayment meter - so not a smart prepayment meter - you'll be given a top-up voucher which you'll need to redeem. If you're a dual fuel customer, you can ask your energy supplier if it is possible to have the discount applied to your gas bill instead.

The discount should be applied automatically for most people from October to the end of March - although some households may You'll first need to see if your energy supplier is signed up to the Warm Home Discount scheme - we've complied a list of all the eligible suppliers here:

  • 100Green (formerly Green Energy UK or GEUK)
  • Affect Energy – see Octopus Energy
  • Boost
  • British Gas
  • Bulb Energy – see Octopus Energy
  • Co-op Energy - see Octopus Energy
  • E - also known as E (Gas and Electricity)
  • Ecotricity
  • E.ON Next
  • EDF
  • Good Energy
  • London Power
  • Octopus Energy
  • Outfox the Market
  • OVO
  • Rebel Energy
  • Sainsbury’s Energy
  • Scottish Gas – see British Gas
  • ScottishPower
  • Shell Energy Retail
  • So Energy
  • Tomato Energy
  • TruEnergy
  • Utilita
  • Utility Warehouse

If your supplier is on this list, you should get the payment automatically if you, or your partner, receive the Guarantee Credit portion of Pension Credit - this is known as “core group one”. You, or your partner, need to have been claiming Pension Credit on the qualifying date, which for this winter was August 11.

You should also get the discount automatically in England and Wales if you claim certain benefits and have high energy costs. Benefits that qualify you for the Warm Home Discount in England and Wales are:

  • Housing Benefit
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
  • Income Support
  • "Savings Credit" part of Pension Credit
  • Universal Credit

You could also qualify if your household income falls below a certain threshold and you get:

  • Child Tax Credit
  • Working Tax Credit

You can check if you're eligible to receive the discount using the GOV.UK Warm Home Discount online tool. If you live in Scotland and you claim benefits, you’ll need to apply for the Warm Home Discount through your supplier under the “broader group” criteria. Your electricity supplier may have extra eligibility criteria, as it is up to them who gets the discount in Scotland.

If you haven't received your Warm Home Discount letter by early January, you can call the Warm Home Discount helpline on 0800 030 9322. The Warm Home Discount scheme is not available in Northern Ireland.