Thousands of households are set to get \u00a3150 off their energy bills today as a handy scheme reopens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eligible bill payers will get the money off their electricity bill between October and March 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The scheme\u00a0officially reopens today, October 16, and those who qualify will get the cash between then and March 31 at the latest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\u00a0Warm Home Discount\u00a0is available to those on the lowest incomes to help with rising costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Households in\u00a0England\u00a0and\u00a0Wales\u00a0don’t need to apply to get the cash and\u00a0they’ll automatically qualify\u00a0if they are receiving certain benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Scotland, some customers will need to apply for cash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Energy suppliers will automatically dish out the payment, worth \u00a3150 this year, as long as you were receiving certain\u00a0benefits\u00a0on August 13.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, if you later launched a\u00a0successful claim for backdated benefits before October 13, you may still be able to qualify after this date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Between now and December, the government will be issuing letters to households that qualify for the scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And payments for the \u00a3150 discount will begin today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s up to individual energy companies to decide when they will give their customers the discount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So far firms including British Gas, OVO and Octopus have announced they’re dishing out the discount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To qualify, you need to claim either the guaranteed credit element of Pension Credit or a different qualifying means-tested benefit, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Income support If you weren’t claiming any of the above benefits on August 13 you won’t be eligible for the payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Where someone claims a qualifying benefit, the government will assess their energy costs based on the type, age and size of property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although that rule doesn’t apply to recipients of the guarantee credit portion of Pension Credit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The\u00a0Scottish Government\u00a0has not changed their\u00a0Warm Home Discount scheme\u00a0to bring it in line with England and Wales’ application-free scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Households in\u00a0Scotland\u00a0will have to follow the rules set out in the legacy scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This means there is still 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you pay by direct debit or on receipt of your bill the Warm Home Discount will be added to your electricity account as a credit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have a traditional prepayment meter, your energy firmwill send you a voucher you can use to top up your meter at your local PayPoint kiosk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’ve got a smart prepayment meter, it will send the discount directly to your meter as a credit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It will then send you an email to let you know it’s on there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The discount will not affect your\u00a0Cold Weather Payment\u00a0or\u00a0Winter Fuel Payment.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Thousands of households are set to get \u00a3150 off their energy bills today as a handy scheme reopens. Eligible bill payers will get the money off their electricity bill between … <\/p>\n
Income based jobseeker’s allowance
Income related employment and support allowance
Housing benefit
Universal Credit
Child tax credit
Working tax credits
Pension Credit savings credit<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nHow do I get the discount in Scotland?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How will I receive the Warm Home Discount?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n