Millions of households to get letters about £150 energy bill discount from today

Millions of households to get letters about £150 energy bill discount from today EXCLUSIVE: Warm Home Discount letters will begin to arrive this week and will continue to be issued through to January 2027 Millions of households are being urged to check for letters that confirm they will get £150 off their energy bills this winter. The letters will explain details about the Warm Home Discount, which gives eligible households £150 off their electricity bill. The money applied directly to your energy account, as opposed to your bank account, and is awarded to homes where someone is claiming certain means-tested benefits, such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit. Around six million households across Britain will get the £150 discount this winter, with nearly 2.3 million additional families, including around one million with children, receiving the rebate last year after the expansion of the scheme. Letters will begin to arrive this week and will continue to be issued through to January 2027. They will tell you if you will get the discount automatically or if you need to apply. The deadline for applying is February 26, 2027. There are reports that suggest the Government is considering increasing the Warm Home Discount by £100 as part of the Budget, to help struggling households with rising energy bills. This has not been confirmed by the Treasury. The Ofgem price cap for the typical household that pays by direct debit is currently set at £1,723 a year - but energy analysts at Cornwall Insight are forecasting an increase to £1,999 in January. Minister for Energy Consumers Polly Billington said: “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. “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.” Ned Hammond, Deputy Director of Policy (Customers) at Energy UK said: “The Warm Home Discount offers vital help for millions of households through the colder months, and this week the government will begin sending letters to eligible customers to explain how the support will be delivered. “As we face the prospect of another winter of high and volatile energy prices, we encourage anyone struggling with their bill to contact their supplier to see what help is available for them.”