Warm Home Discount 2026: Thousands more qualify for £150 off energy bills, says Scottish Power

Thousand more low income households will get a £150 discount on electricity under the Warm Home Discount this winter, according to major energy supplier Scottish Power.

The scheme reopens this month, and will support people who struggle with the cost of heating their home.

If you haven't qualified in previous years, you could find that you do now fit the criteria.

Previously, the scheme wasn't open to people who didn't live in a home that was classified as expensive to heat.

In England and Wales, you qualify if you receive certain means-tested benefits and your name, or your partner's name, is on the electricity bill.

Mark Murphy, government obligations director at ScottishPower, said: "The Warm Home Discount provides vital help for households facing higher energy costs, so it's great news that more customers across England and Wales are expected to benefit this winter.

"Many people may not realise the eligibility rules have changed. That means households who didn't qualify before could now be entitled to £150 off their bills, so it's worth checking what support may be available."

What is the Warm Home Discount?

The Warm Home Discount is normally applied automatically to your electricity bill rather than being paid directly to you.

You shouldn't need to make a separate claim - but it is important to check whose name is on the electricity bill.

This is because the eligible households are identified through its electricity supplier.

And the qualifying person's name, or their partner's name, generally needs to be linked to the electricity account.

For the 2026/27 scheme, the 23 August 2026 was the qualifying date used to match customer and benefit records.

If you it wasn't right on this date, it doesn't mean you've missed out but you should contact your supplier to get the correct name added and apply for the discount.

Check whether you receive a qualifying benefit

The Warm Home Discount isn't just for pensioners.

In England and Wales, eligibility includes households receiving certain means-tested benefits, including Pension Credit and Universal Credit, although the precise qualifying rules apply.

This means you should check your current benefit entitlement before the scheme opens.

If your circumstances have changed since you last checked your benefits – for example, your household income has fallen or you have started receiving Universal Credit – you could now qualify.

The qualifying benefits include:

• Universal Credit

• Housing Benefit

• Pension Credit

• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Warm Home Discount 2026/27 list of energy suppliers

The Warm Home Discount is delivered through participating electricity suppliers - and not all offer the scheme.

If you have recently switched supplier, check whether your new provider participates in the scheme before assuming the £150 will automatically appear on your account.

This is particularly important if you're considering switching energy tariffs or suppliers before winter.

If you're eligible but your supplier does not participate in the scheme, you may not receive the discount in the same way.

The following suppliers are part of the winter 2026 to 2027 scheme:

• 100Green (formerly Green Energy UK or GEUK)

• Boost

• British Gas

• E - also known as E (Gas and Electricity)

• Ecotricity

• EDF

• EnergyCoop – see Octopus Energy

• E.ON Next

• Fuse Energy

• Good Energy

• Home Energy

• London Power

• Octopus Energy

• Outfox Energy

• OVO

• Sainsbury’s Energy

• Scottish Gas – see British Gas

• ScottishPower

• So Energy

• Square 1 Energy Ltd

• TruEnergy

• Tulo Energy

• Utilita

• Utility Warehouse