Help paying your bills

The Warm Home Discount scheme is available to millions of households in the UK. It requires suppliers with more than 50,000 customers to help vulnerable people pay for their energy over winter.

If you have a standard credit meter, the money isn't paid to you – it's a £150 rebate applied to your electricity or gas bill between October and March 2024.

The Warm Home Discount (WHD) Scheme 2023/24 will close on 29 February 2024. All claims must be made to the helpline before this date. The WHD helpline will remain open for calls until 31 March 2024 (0800 030 9322).

If you're on a prepayment meter, you'll usually be sent a top-up voucher. You do not need to apply as it'll be awarded automatically to those on Pension Credit, and to those on certain benefits and have 'high energy costs'.

What are high energy costs?

To work out if your home has high energy costs, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) and energy suppliers will look at data on the age, type (for example, semi-detached or detached), and floor area of your property, to decide if it's likely to be expensive to heat, or how energy-efficient it is. If the VOA is missing information, it may use your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) – assuming you have one.

How and when will I get the £150?

How you get the discount depends on how you pay for your electricity. However you pay, the £150 will almost always be a discount on your bill, not a cash payment.

• If you're on a standard credit or smart prepayment meter: you should get an automatic one-off £150 discount on your electricity bill sometime between October 2023 and March 2024. You should have received a letter confirming your discount.
• If you're on a traditional prepayment meter: you should be sent a top-up voucher, by post, email or text, though some may receive a cheque. You have 90 days to redeem the voucher, but your supplier can reissue it if you lose it or it expires.