Warm Home Discount Scheme reopens

The Warm Home Discount Scheme reopened in October 2024 for households in England, Wales and Scotland, according to the debt charity StepChange¹. The scheme provides £150 off electricity bills for eligible households¹. Turn2us lists the scheme as opening for applications in October 2024 in its benefits changes timetable².

Eligibility depends on receiving the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit or being on a low income, and either having high energy costs in England and Wales or fitting the supplier's criteria in Scotland¹. Households on prepayment meters are advised to speak to their supplier¹.

The reopening comes alongside other winter support. The Household Support Fund, which helps with food and energy bills, was extended for another six months in September 2024¹. Cold Weather Payments of £25 per seven-day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March apply in England and Wales to people receiving Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit or Support for Mortgage Interest¹. In Scotland, the Winter Heating Payment has replaced the Cold Weather Payment and is an annual payment not based on temperature¹. The Child Winter Heating Payment is also available to families of disabled children and young people, paid per eligible child¹.

Winter Fuel Payment rules have changed. For 2024/25, eligibility requires being born before 23 September 1958 and living in England and Wales, and receiving one of Pension Credit, Universal Credit, income-related ESA, income-based JSA or Income Support¹. People aged 66 to 79 receive £200 per household, rising to £300 for those aged 80 or over¹. For winter 2024/25, the Department for Work and Pensions has committed to make payments to eligible pensioners in Scotland on terms equivalent to Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales¹. From winter 2025/26, Scotland will introduce the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment¹.

Several schemes have ended. StepChange reports that the Energy Price Guarantee, the £900 one-off Cost of Living Payment for those on means-tested benefits, the Pensioner Cost of Living Payment and the £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment are no longer available in winter 2024¹.

Why it matters for households

The £150 discount reduces electricity costs for eligible households in England, Wales and Scotland from October 2024¹. Eligibility is narrower than a universal payment: it depends on Pension Credit Guarantee Credit or low income, plus either high energy costs in England and Wales or supplier criteria in Scotland¹. The Winter Fuel Payment changes mean many pension-age households who previously received it automatically will not qualify in 2024/25 unless they receive one of the listed benefits¹. Cold Weather Payments remain automatic and are added to benefits when local temperatures are zero degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days¹. In Scotland, the Winter Heating Payment is paid regardless of weather to those on qualifying benefits¹.

What happens next

Turn2us lists the Child Winter Heating Payment as expected to be paid to eligible families in Scotland in November 2024, Winter Fuel Payments beginning to reach eligible pensioners across the UK in November 2024, and the Cold Weather Payment 2024 scheme opening in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in November 2024². The Winter Heating Payment will be paid to eligible households in Scotland in December 2024². The second Carer's Allowance Supplement payment of 2024 will be paid in Scotland in December 2024². In Scotland, the Pension Age Disability Payment will be available in five council areas from 21 October and across Scotland in April 2025².