Warm Home Discount 2025, Government reminder
The qualifying rules for the 2025 Warm Home Discount have changed from the 2024 rules- the property size/age rules have been scrapped so more will qualify this year than last year.
The Government have this week issued a Press Release reminding people in receipt of Income Related (means tested) benefits to check that they are named as the billpayer on their electricity bill to be eligible for the 2025 Warm Home Discount.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/reminder-to-eligible-households-to-get-150-off-energy-bills
Every household where the billpayer receives an eligible means-tested benefit will now be in line for the discount, after the government removed restrictions that previously excluded many who needed help with bills.
In England and Wales, this means households in receipt of Housing Benefit, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit and Universal Credit will now be eligible.
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The government is now issuing a call to eligible households to check they are named on their electricity bill, with suppliers set to rely on customers’ records as of Sunday 24 August.
Someone might not be named on their electricity bill if they have recently moved house and changed supplier.
Update - OVO’s 2025-2026 scheme is now open for those living in SCOTLAND, (Core Group 2 those who recieve an Income Related benefit) to register.See the post below by Emmanuelle_OVO
A further note to make clear that you do not necessarily have to be the named bill payer to get the WHD.
Being the named bill payer just makes it easier for the government to match IR benefit recipients with electricity accounts and tell the supplier to make the WHD credit to the account automatically.
In past years we have seen where people on benefits who were not named as bill payers still had the Warm Home Discount paid into the electricity account for their ‘household’ even though it was not in their name. (It just took a bit longer for the government to do the necessary matching).
Although it’s not absolutely certain we can only assume that the government will be doing the same this year?
There will also be other ways for the WHD credit to be given to you if you get an IR benefit.
Say for example you have a PAYG meter they usually give top-up vouchers which you can use to top-up your meter.
(Although with smart meter PAYG they may be able to add the credit remotely),
There will be more details when the scheme goes 'Live' later this year.
