UK households can get new free £150 payment towards their energy bill

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The Warm Home Discount Scheme can offer respite amid the Cost of Living crisis after the £300 Winter Fuel Payment was axed by the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ).

UK households can claim for £150 towards their energy bill - with applications open in October. The Warm Home Discount Scheme can offer respite amid the Cost of Living crisis after the £300 Winter Fuel Payment was axed by the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ).

There are different ways to qualify for the Warm Home Discount Scheme depending on where you live. If you live in England and Wales y ou qualify if you either get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit or are on a low income and have high energy costs.

If you live in Scotland you qualify if you either get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit or are on a low income in Scotland and meet your energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme. The Warm Home Discount scheme is not available in Northern Ireland.

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You can still qualify for the discount if you use a pre-pay or pay-as-you-go electricity meter. Your electricity supplier can tell you how you’ll get the discount if you’re eligible, for example a voucher you can use to top up your meter.

You apply a different way if you live in a park home. You qualify for the discount if all of the following applied: your energy supplier is part of the scheme, your name (or your partner’s) is on the electricity bill and you or your partner are getting the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit (even if you get Savings Credit as well).

This is known as being in the ‘core group 1’ in England and Wales. In Scotland, it is the ‘core group’. Your property must have a high energy cost score to be eligible for the scheme. This is not based on the actual energy costs in your energy bill. It’s calculated based on your property’s type, age and floor area, the DWP says.