Winter fuel support payments
Warm Home Discount
The Warm Home Discount is a £140 rebate off your electricity bill, usually paid between September and March, to help vulnerable customers pay for their energy over the winter.
If you receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit and you or your partner are the named bill payer and your electricity supplier is part of the scheme you should receive this rebate automatically.
You may also be eligible for this rebate if you receive certain means-tested benefits or are on a low income. Each obligated supplier has different criteria, therefore you will need to contact your supplier directly to see if you qualify.
You can receive the payment even if you have a prepayment meter and the discount won't affect your Cold Weather Payment or Winter Fuel Payment.
For more information call the Government helpline on 0800 731 0214 or visit the Warm Home Discount website.
Winter Fuel Payment
The Winter fuel payment helps people to pay their winter energy bills. Most payments are made automatically between November and December.
You will usually get a Winter Fuel Payment automatically if you are above the age threshold for that year and you get the State Pension or another social security benefit (not Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction or Child Benefit). This payment will not affect your other benefits.
How much you receive will depend on your age, household and the benefits you receive. To check if you could be eligible and for further information and contact details visit the government Winter Fuel Payment website.
Cold Weather Payment
The cold weather payment is a £25 payment made for each period when the local temperature is either recorded as, or forecast to be, an average of zero degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days, between 1 November and 31 March.
You may get a Cold Weather Payment if you are getting certain benefits. If you are eligible, you should be paid automatically.
If you don't receive your payment but believe you are eligible, call your Jobcentre Plus or pension centre, or if you receive Universal Credit, contact 0800 328 9344. To check if you may be eligible and for more information visit the Cold Weather Payment website.
Cold Weather Payments don't affect your other benefits.
