Who can get the Warm Home Discount

Pension Credit customers who are automatically considered for the rebate

You may qualify for this energy rebate if on the qualifying date of 11 September 2011 all the following apply:

• you got only the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit (no Savings Credit)
• your name, or your partner’s name was on your electricity bill
• your electricity account was with one of the energy suppliers participating in this scheme – see ‘Energy suppliers participating in this scheme’ below

If you meet the conditions above you do not need to do anything now to get your rebate.

If you do not qualify automatically because you get the Savings Credit element of Pension Credit see "Can other people get a Warm Home Discount" below.

Other people in vulnerable groups can get the Warm Home Discount -

Energy suppliers will also give a £120 rebate to some other customers in vulnerable groups (called the broader group). Each electricity supplier has different eligibility criteria they will use to decide who may get the rebate. 

SEE THE ATTACHED DOCUMENT BELOW FOR CRITERIA ON WHO WILL QUALIFY FOR EACH ENERGY SUPPLIER PARTICIPATING.

This is a capped fund, and once used up, people will will no longer receive the discount.

What you need to do

If you were only on the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit on the qualifying date (11 September 2011) you don’t need to take any action now. The Pension Service are providing the participating energy suppliers with details of people who will qualify.

**HOWEVER, if you think you will qualify under the 'broader group' for vulnerable people, you need to contact your energy supplier as soon as possible by telephone, to state that you will qualify, and ask to receive the discount.

How much you can get

If you qualify you’ll receive £120 towards your electricity bill in winter 2011/12.

When you’ll get your rebate

Energy rebates for 2011/12 will be made during the winter months. If you qualify you’ll get a letter this winter to confirm this. If you were on the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit on the qualifying date (11 September 2011) you should recieve a letter. You should get this letter between mid November 2011 and the end of February 2012.

If you may be eligible, but an automatic rebate can't be made, your letter will ask you to provide further information as soon as possible. This must be recieved by 28 March 2012 at the latest. All the information you need will be on your electricity bill.

How the Warm Home Discount Scheme works

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and participating electricity suppliers will share some limited information about their customers. This allows participating electricity suppliers to give the energy rebate automatically to customers who qualify.

The Warm Home Discount Scheme will run for four years from winter 2011/12.

Rebates will be paid and funded by participating electricity suppliers.

Energy suppliers participating in the scheme

The electricity suppliers involved in this scheme are: Atlantic, British Gas, EDF Energy, E.ON, Equipower, Equigas, Manweb, M&S Energy, Npower, Sainsbury's Energy, Scottish Gas, Scottish Hydro, ScottishPower, Southern Electric, SSE, Swalec and Utility Warehouse.

Rebates paid under the Warm Home Discount Scheme will not affect any Cold Weather Payment or Winter Fuel Payment you may receive.

Further help

Call the Home Heat Helpline on 0800 336699, and they can put you through to your energy supplier, and help you if you have any difficulty claiming this discount.