Millions of households in England and Wales could see £150 ($200) knocked off their energy bills, and the government is urging people to watch for a letter confirming whether they qualify.
The expanded Warm Home Discount is expected to reach about six million households, 2.3 million more than before, according to The Independent.
Here's what to know
The Warm Home Discount gives eligible households a one-time £150 reduction on domestic energy bills, applied between October and March.
The Department for Energy and Net Zero said the scheme has been broadened.
Under the updated rules, a bill payer can qualify by receiving an eligible means-tested benefit alone, without also having to show that the home has high energy costs.
For households in England and Wales, the qualifying benefits are universal credit, housing benefit, income-related ESA and pension credit.
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The Department for Energy and Net Zero said it started sending letters confirming eligibility on Oct. 22 and will continue, with the last due in January 2027.
"I know that many families will be struggling with their energy bills this winter. That is why I urge those who think they qualify for the Warm Home Discount to keep an eye out for a letter confirming their eligibility," said Minister for energy consumers Polly Billington.
More background
The £150 can start appearing on bills from October, but energy suppliers have until March 2027 to add it, meaning not every eligible customer will see the credit at the same time.
There has also been speculation that Chancellor John Healey is considering raising the support to £250 ($334) or £300 ($401) for qualifying households, at an estimated cost of about £1 billion ($1.3 billion).
The Treasury declined to comment on that speculation.
Money expert Martin Lewis said it would be "unthinkable" for the government not to provide that kind of support, given forecasts of higher energy bills.
What can be done?
First, check whether the bill payer receives one of the qualifying benefits in England or Wales.
Households should also watch for a letter from the Department for Energy and Net Zero. It will either confirm that the £150 discount will be applied automatically or say that further information is required.
If the department requests extra information, it said people should contact the helpline by late February 2027. Missing that step could delay or prevent the discount from being applied.
Even after getting a confirmation letter, qualifying customers may need to keep checking their statements for some time, since suppliers have until March 2027 to apply the credit.
"Energy is an absolute essential, which is exactly why in October we cut VAT on all electricity bills and earlier this year we removed £150 of costs off bills, giving families breathing space this winter," Billington said.
Where can I learn more?
This is one part of a broader effort to help households manage high energy costs. The articles here look at government-backed home upgrades, grid changes aimed at lowering bills, and other efforts to make energy affordable in the UK.
• Across the U.K., officials are rolling out over $17B in home upgrades to cut bills.
• Millions of U.K. households could receive free home upgrades designed to lower energy bills.
• The U.K. government is investing billions in helping thousands of households save on energy.
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