Energy bill support extended - what it means for you

The government’s warm home discount scheme has been extended for another five years.

This means around six million low-income households will continue to get £150 off their winter energy bills until 2030/2031.

“That will give families much-needed peace of mind that they will continue to receive vital support in the cold winter months, as we take action to bring down bills for good,” said energy secretary Ed Miliband.

This comes shortly after the government launched a £15bn plan to upgrade people’s homes and cut their energy bills, which it hopes will lift up to a million households out of fuel poverty by 2030.

Who can get the warm home discount?

You’re eligible for a £150 one-off discount if you’re named on the bill and receive one of the following means-tested benefits:

• universal credit
• pension credit (guarantee credit and savings credit)
• income support
• housing benefit
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) 

But you won’t get the payment automatically unless you’re named.

How do I get the warm discount?

In most cases, the £150 discount will be automatically deducted from energy bills, so eligible households don’t need to do anything.

In 2024, 96% of eligible households got their discount automatically.

Some people may need to confirm extra information to get the discount. 

But if that’s the case, you’ll get a letter explaining what to do and given a genuine helpline number to call.

Every little helps

A £150 discount won’t cover the full cost of your winter energy bills.

But it can go a long way, especially if you’re already taking steps such as speaking your supplier about what help they can offer, and being savvy with your usage.

Check out our guide to energy bill support for more tips on what you're entitled to and how to reduce your costs even further.