The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will reopen the Warm Home Discount Scheme in October 2026, offering a £150 discount on electricity bills to eligible households. The discount will be applied to bills by 31 March of the following year.
In England and Wales, households qualify automatically if they are the named billpayer and receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit. Other qualifying means-tested benefits include Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and Pension Credit.
The scheme has been extended until winter 2030/31 across England, Wales, and Scotland. Since launching in 2011, the Warm Home Discount has delivered £4.53 billion in support through energy bill rebates and additional initiatives aimed at helping low-income and vulnerable households.
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During winter 2023/24, 3.35 million households benefited from the £150 rebate, which was deducted directly from their electricity or gas bills. For winter 2025/26, following the removal of the high-cost-to-heat threshold in England and Wales, around 6 million households are estimated to receive the rebate, representing an increase of approximately 2.7 million compared to the previous year.
Beyond the direct rebates, the scheme’s Industry Initiatives require energy suppliers to provide further energy-related and financial support to eligible households, either directly or in partnership with charitable organisations. This additional support helps further reduce fuel poverty and ease the financial burden on vulnerable groups across Great Britain.