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What is the Warm Home Discount Scheme?

Who can get the Warm Home Discount?

The Warm Home Discount is a government scheme that gives eligible households £150 off their electricity bill, during the winter months. If you qualify, we’ll apply the discount directly to your electricity account.

Who can get Warm Home Discount Scheme?

England & Wales

You or your partner1 must have been named on the domestic electricity bill on 23rd August 2026 and receive one of the benefits below:

  • Universal Credit (with an overall low-income threshold applied to household earnings)

  • Housing Benefit

  • Income Support

  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

  • Pension Credit (both the Guaranteed element and Savings Credit)

For more information on eligible qualifying benefits please visit the Government’s Warm Home Discount webpage.

Scotland

In Scotland, the scheme is divided into Core Group and Broader Group.

Core Group

You may qualify for the Core Group if:

  • your name, or your partner’s name, is on the electricity bill; and

  • you receive one of the qualifying benefits listed below and meet the Core Group criteria.

Pension Credit No additional criteria needed to apply
Universal CreditThe person applying must be: 

 Employed or self-employed and get a child or young person disability element;

 or, they have to be employed or be in gainful self-employment and either;

  • The person is responsible for a child under the age of five who normally lives with them; or

  • The person receives a child or young person disability element; or

  • The person has limited capability for work or limited capability for work and work-related activity for the purposes of the Universal Credit

Income Support or Income based Jobseeker’s AllowanceThe person applying is responsible for a child under the age of five who normally lives with them, or the person’s income-based jobseeker’s allowance includes any of the following premiums:

  • Pensioner premium;

  • Higher pensioner premium;

  • Disability premium;

  • Severe disability premium;

  • Enhanced disability premium;

  • Disabled child premium.

Income Related Employment Support AllowanceThe person applying is responsible for a child under the age of five who normally lives with them or has limited capability for work or work-related activity, or the person’s income-related employment and support allowance includes any of the following premiums:

  • Pensioner premium;

  • Severe disability premium;

  • Enhanced disability premium

Support for Mortgage InterestThe person applying must be receiving state pension credit. Alternatively, they can qualify if they receive a loan because they are treated as being entitled to Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, and 

  • The person is responsible for a child under the age of five who normally lives with the person; or

  • If the person had been entitled to income support, an income-based jobseeker’s allowance or an income-related employment and support allowance, it would have included any of the pensioner or disability premiums mentioned under each benefit above.

 Broader Group

If you don’t qualify for the Core Group, you may still be eligible through Broader Group if you or your partner meets certain criteria. Please see the eligibility criteria below*. If you believe you or your partner match any of these criteria, you’ll need to apply for the payment, as you will not automatically qualify.

Do I need to apply for the Warm Home Discount?

You do not need to apply if:

  • You live in England or Wales

  • You live in Scotland and qualify through Core Group

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) will send you a letter.

The letter will either:

  • confirm you’re eligible, or

  • ask you for more information.

To receive the discount from ScottishPower, you must have:

  • been a ScottishPower customer on 23rd August 2026, and

  • received a qualifying benefit on that date.

If you think you’re eligible but have not received a letter by January 2027, contact the Government’s Warm Home Discount team – find more information here.

If you were with a different energy supplier on 23rd August 2026, that supplier will apply your discount.2

How do I apply through the Scottish Broader Group?

You apply for Broader Group though our website which will open in the autumn, you must:

  • have a ScottishPower electricity account for a property in Scotland when you apply

  • still be a ScottishPower customer when we make the payment

We review all applications after the application window closes.

Funding for the scheme is limited. Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee you’ll receive the discount.

Important information for customers applying through Broader Group (Scotland)

To check your eligibility, we may:

  • share information from your application with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

  • ask you to provide evidence of the benefits you receive

ScottishPower or our delivery partner, Charis Grants, may contact you by email or letter.

If you don’t provide the requested evidence within the deadline, we cannot make the payment.

Tell us if your circumstances change

If any of the details submitted on your Broader Group application change, including your account number, you must let us know as soon as possible as you may no longer be eligible for the discount.

How will I receive my Warm Home Discount payment?

How you receive your discount depends on the type of meter you have.

  • If you don’t Pay as You Go - We’ll add the discount directly to your electricity account.
  • If you have a traditional prepayment meter - We’ll send you a barcode voucher that you can use to claim your credit.
  • If you have a smart prepayment meter - We’ll apply the credit directly to your meter.

How to make sure your account details are up to date

It’s important that your account details are up to date.

Check that:

  • your name is correct

  • your address is correct

  • anyone who may qualify for the Warm Home Discount is named on the account

If someone in your household qualifies for the scheme but is not named on the energy account, ask us to add them. Update your account details here.

Frequently asked questions

Eligibility Criteria

*Eligibility for Broader Group (Scotland)

You must be in receipt of one benefit from the Eligibility group below.

  1. Pension Age Disability payment

  2. Adult disability payment

  3. Universal Credit

  4. Income Support

  5. Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

  6. Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

  7. Housing Benefits

  8. Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP)

  9. Carer’s Allowance

  10. Child Disability Payment

  11. Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance

1

Partner refers to someone living in the same household as the as the person applying.

2

Suppliers with less than 1,000 customers are exempt.

Last updated: 31 August 2026

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