Warning for thousands on low incomes to make simple call to get £150 winter energy bill help

LOW-INCOME households should be aware of a helpline which can help them get a £150 discount on their energy bill this winter.

The Warm Home Discount is a one-off £150 discount on your electricity bill.

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You do not get the money paid into your account, but instead, your energy supplier takes the sum off your bill.

To qualify for the support you usually need to be on a low income or claim certain benefits.

It comes as households face rising energy bills this winter.

Following Ofgem's price cap announcement, yearly energy bills will rise from its current rate of £1,717 a year to £1,738.

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New figures released by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) showed a total of 2.3million households automatically received the payments in 2022/23.

But, a further 128,000 people were given the discount after they called the Warm Home Discount helpline.

The helpline is a telephone number you can call to enquire about your eligibility for the benefit.

You can also contact the Warm Home Discount helpline if you do not get the letter by early January 2025 and you think you’re eligible. 

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However, you must contact them before February 28 2025.

Households can call the number on 0800 030 9322.

Alternatively, you can write a letter to the following address, Warm Home Discount Scheme PO Box 14127 Selkirk TD7 9AH.

When contacting the helpline it may be worth having documents detailing how many benefits you claim and your energy supplier to make sure you are able to state your claim as smoothly as possible.

HOW TO GET THE DISCOUNT

If you’re eligible, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill. The money is not paid to you.

Applications for the scheme opened in October, however, you may not get the help until next March.

To qualify you'll usually need to be actively claiming one of a number of means-tested benefits during the qualifying week - which was in August.

The qualifying means-tested benefits are:

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

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

• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit

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However, if you later launch a successful claim for backdated benefits, you may still be able to qualify after this date and once it's confirmed.

If you qualify for the WHD, you should receive a letter telling you. These are usually sent between October and January.

What energy bill help is available?

There's a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you're struggling to get by.

If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.

This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.

If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don't think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.

Several energy firms have schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.

But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.

For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.

British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.

You don't need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.

EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.

Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).

The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill.

Some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you're struggling.

Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.