By James Rodger
Copyright birminghammail
An a utomatic £150 payment is coming in October for people born before a certain date. Low-income pensioners and other households will soon be getting help to pay their energy bills. The Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) Warm Home Discount scheme saves people £150 on their gas and electricity and is about to kick in again for winter 2025. The discount is applied directly to bills rather than being made in the form of a payment. But the effect is the same for many – saving them cash on energy payments. It’s up to energy companies to decide when to apply the discounts. This can be done at any time between October and March so some will get the discount before others. READ MORE UK prescription rule change means households face £247 charge The Labour Party government will write to those who are eligible to let them know what’s happening. State pensioners – those born before September 1958 – who get the Guarantee element of Pension Credit will get the support, as well as others on a low income who also have high energy costs. The charity Age UK explains: “The Warm Home Discount is a one-off payment of £150 to help with the cost of energy during the winter. It’s designed to make things a bit easier if you’re living on a low income or pension. “Getting a Warm Home Discount doesn’t affect your entitlement to a Winter Fuel Payment or Cold Weather Payment. “If your electricity supplier is part of the Warm Home Discount scheme then you don’t need to apply for it – you’ll get the payment automatically if you or your partner receive the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit, or another qualifying benefit, and have high energy costs. “The money won’t be paid to you directly – it’ll be added as credit to your electricity account. “This usually happens between October and March (you might be able to get the discount applied to your gas bill if you’re a dual-fuel customer – i.e. you have a combined plan for gas and electricity with the same supplier). “If you use a prepayment meter, you’ll probably be given a top-up voucher. Some suppliers also offer indirect help to customers as part of the Warm Home Discount scheme. “This might include advice on using less energy and help with reducing energy-related debts.”
