Millions on universal credit and pension credit urged to check one thing before August 23 or lose £150

Millions of households have been urged to check their energy bill this week or risk losing out on a £150 discount this winter.

Around 6m homes will get the Warm Home Discount knocked off their electricity bill over the colder months.

But to get the payment, you must be named on your electricity bill by Sunday 23 August.

That’s because suppliers will check their records on that date to work out who gets the money. If your name is not on the account by then, you could miss out even though you qualify.

The warning comes from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, which is asking people to check now rather than leave it.

Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh said almost a million more families with children got the discount last winter after the rules were widened.

She added: "If you know someone who might benefit, please start spreading the word."

What is the Warm Home Discount?

The Warm Home Discount is £150 off your electricity bill.

It is not a cash payment. Your supplier takes it straight off what you owe, usually between October and March.

You do not have to apply. If you qualify, it happens automatically.

Who gets it?

You will get it if the person named on the energy bill receives one of the following:

• universal credit
• pension credit
• housing benefit
• income-related employment and support allowance

How to check

Find a recent bill or log into your energy account online and look at the name at the top.

There are two things to look for. Is your name on there? And is it the name of the person claiming the benefit?

If the bill is in your partner's name and they are not the one claiming, it might not match up. Ring your supplier and ask.

What if your name isn't on it?

This catches out far more people than you would think.

You may have moved house recently and the account has not caught up. You might have split up with a partner and the bill is still in their name. Somebody may have set the account up years ago and nobody ever changed it. Or you have never looked.

If any of that sounds familiar, contact your supplier now.

What about prepayment meters?

You can still get the discount, but the account has to be in your name.

If you top up using a key or a card, check the account is registered to you. You will usually get the £150 as a voucher rather than money off a bill.

When will you get it?

Most people get it between October and March. Your supplier will either write to you or it will appear on your statement.

If you think you should have had it and nothing has arrived by the end of February, get in touch with your supplier.