MILLIONS of households can get a £150 discount on their energy bills this winter.
The help comes through the Warm House Discount which is there to help households on low incomes.
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The Warm Home Discount is available to those on the lowest incomes to help with rising costs.
Households in England and Wales don’t need to apply to get the cash and they’ll automatically qualify if they are receiving certain benefits.
In Scotland, some customers will need to apply for cash.
Energy suppliers will automatically dish out the discount, which is £150 this year, as long as you were receiving certain benefits on August 13.
However, if you later launch a successful claim for backdated benefits, you may still be able to qualify after this date.
What is the Warm Home Discount?
The Warm Home Discount is an automatic £150 discount off energy bills, and payments began this month.
As it is a discount, no money is paid to you.
You’ll need to be a recipient of one or more of the following benefits to qualify:
If you weren’t claiming any of the above benefits on August 13, 2022, you won’t be eligible for the payment.
Where someone claims a qualifying benefit, the government will assess their energy costs based on the type, age and size of property.
You may not be considered eligible for the Warm Home Discount if you live in a more energy-efficient property for instance, even if you receive a qualifying benefit.
This rule doesn’t apply to recipients of the guarantee credit portion of Pension Credit.
But you can challenge it by getting in touch with the Warm Home Discount helpline on 0800 030 9322.
How do I apply for the discount?
People living in England and Wales don’t need to apply for the Warm Home Discount.
You get the payment automatically if your electricity supplier is part of the scheme and you qualify.
Though energy regulator Ofgem says some people may be asked to contact a Government helpline to confirm their eligibility.
The money won’t be paid to you directly – it’ll be added as credit to your electricity account. This usually happens between October and April.
Visit the Government website for more information.
How do I secure the discount in Scotland?
The Scottish Government has refused to renew their 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.
This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk
