The Warm Home Discount could help you save you money on your energy bill.
The Warm Home Discount scheme requires suppliers, by law, to help vulnerable people in the UK pay for their energy. The money isn’t paid to you, it’s a £140 rebate applied to your electricity bill between September and March – unless you’re on prepay meter, in which case you’ll usually be sent a top-up voucher.
There are two ways to qualify, with a different process for each.
- If you get pension credit, you should receive the warm home discount automatically.If, as of July, you received the guarantee credit element of pension credit and your name (or your partner’s) is on the bill, you’re in what’s known as the ‘core group’. Provided your energy supplier is part of the scheme. You should receive a letter (usually sent between October and December) confirming when the £140 will be deducted from your electricity bill. The letter may also ask you to contact a helpline to confirm your details if required. If you don’t receive this letter it is important to contact your supplier direct.
If you don’t qualify for pension credit, you can still apply providing you get certain benefits, under what’s known as the ‘broader group’ criteria.
To qualify you must
- have an annual household income of less £16,190 pounds per annum or less and be in receipt of either:
- child tax credits,
- income support or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance,
- or income-related employment and support allowance,
you’re also eligible to apply if you are in receipt of any of the following benefits including:
- A disability premium
- A pensioner premium.
- A disabled child premium.
- Child tax credit that includes a disability or severe disability element.
- Parental responsibility of a child aged under five living with you.
If you get universal credit and earn an income of less than £1,349 pounds in an at least one month since November 2018, you’re eligible if you have any of the following:
- Limited capability for work element
- In receipt of the disabled child element.
- Parental responsibility for a child aged under five living with you.
If you’re eligible, you’ll need to apply directly to your supplier. You should do it as early as possible as discounts are often limited and cut-off dates vary between suppliers. Applications can open as early as August.
Please note that not all suppliers offer the warm home discount and criteria can vary between suppliers, to find out if your supplier does offer the Warm Home Discount, contact your supplier direct. Their contact details can be found on your last bill. You can also find out this information by going onto their Website. Your supplier may allow you to register your interest in the warm home discount in which they will send a TEXT alert when the application process opens.
With regard to switching suppliers It’s important to check the qualifying criteria if you are thinking about changing suppliers.
To get the rebate next year, you’ll need to be with a participating supplier on the ‘qualifying date’. This is usually in June or July.
If you’re on certain benefits and you have to apply to get the discount, you should always check before you switch that the supplier offers it to those on benefits, as criteria can differ between providers and check that the supplier’s scheme is still open to applications. You will then need to apply with the new supplier
If you would like further information on this scheme please contact cairn on 0800 9903405 where our Tenancy Sustainment Officers and Welfare Benefit Officer will be able to provide advice in relation to any queries you may have.
