Energy discounts and financial support

Help is out there if you’re worried about your energy bills. Keep on reading to find out what’s available, if you qualify and how to apply.

Warm Home Discount

The Warm Home Discount takes £150 off your electricity bill. The discount comes from your energy supplier. For the 2023 scheme, you’ll get a payment between October 2022 and March 2023.

You can get the Warm Home Discount if:

– You get the guaranteed element of Pension Credit. This makes you part of the Warm Home Discount Core Group.

Or

– You’re part of the Warm Home Discount Broader Group. Different suppliers have different rules about who can be part of the Broader Group for Warm Home Discount. Usually, you either need to be on a low income or in receipt of certain benefits.

How do I get the Warm Home Discount?

If you’re in the Core Group, you should get the Warm Home Discount automatically.

For the 2023 discount, you should have already had a letter to let you know if you are eligible. If you think you are eligible but haven’t had a letter, call:

Warm Home Discount helpline: 0800 107 8002

If you’re in or think you should be in the Broader Group, you need to apply to contact your energy supplier to apply.

The number of Warm Home Discounts your electricity supplier can offer is limited, so you should apply as soon as you can.

Child Winter Heating Assistance

Help is available for disabled children and young people under the age of 19. Those with certain benefits can receive £214.10 towards household bills this winter.

Who can get it Child Winter Heating Assistance?

The child or young person needs to get one or more of:

• The highest rate of the care component of Child Disability Payment;
• The highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance for children;
• The enhanced daily living component of Personal Independence Payment;
• The enhanced rate of the daily living component of Adult Disability Payment.

How do I get it Child Winter Heating Assistance?

Child Winter Heating Assistance should be paid automatically. It usually goes into your bank account at the same time as any benefits.

If you have questions about the scheme, Social Security Scotland can help.

Winter Heating Payment

This scheme is replacing the Cold Weather Payment in Scotland. The new scheme offers £50 per year to help with fuel bills. Payments started in February 2023.

Who can get Winter Heating Payment?

If you get Cold Weather Payment, you’ll be able to get Winter Heating Payment.

You may qualify if you get:

• Pension Credit;
•  Income Support;
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance;
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance;
• Universal Credit;
• Support for Mortgage Interest.

Full criteria can be found on the Scottish Government website. 

How do I get Winter Heating Payment?

Payments should be made automatically. Social Security Scotland will have sent you a letter in February 2023 to let you know if you qualify.

If you think you qualify but haven’t had a letter, you may need to apply.

The contact details for Social Security Scotland can be found on their website.

Winter Fuel Payment

The Winter Fuel Payment gives you between £100 and £300 towards your energy bills. The exact amount you receive depends on your circumstances.

Who can get it Winter Fuel Payment?

You need to be old enough to get the state pension. To get Winter Fuel Payment in 2023, you must have been born on or before 25th September 1957.

How do I get it Winter Fuel Payment?

The money usually goes directly into your account. This should happen in November or December.

If you’ve had no communication or payment by 13th January 2024, contact The Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

Home Heating Support Fund

This fund is for people struggling to pay their fuel bills.

Who can use the Home Heating Support Fund?

If you’re worried about your energy bills, you might have started “self-rationing”. This means you’re cutting back on energy so you can pay for other things. You might hear this talked about as the choice between “heating and eating”. If you can’t afford to do both, you’re forced to make a difficult decision between food and warmth.

The fund is open to self-rationers who have received energy or debt advice.

How do I use the Home Heating Support Fund?

A number of organisations can apply on your behalf. You can find the list on the Home Heating Advice website.

You can also apply yourself through the Home Heating Support Fund website. You’ll be asked to gather evidence to support your application. A list of what the fund is looking for can be found on the website.

The Home Heating Support Fund is open until 31st March 2023 or until funds have run out.