Overview

• Letters confirming eligibility for the £150 Warm Home Discount are going out now through January, with suppliers applying the credit to electricity accounts between October and 31 March 2026, or issuing top‑up vouchers for prepayment meters.
• Eligibility in England and Wales generally covers those on the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit or on low incomes with high energy costs, with Universal Credit claimants newly included this winter under the expanded scheme.
• Most people do not need to apply for the Warm Home Discount, and the DWP warns that calls asking you to apply are scams; only contact the official helpline if your letter instructs you to do so, before the 28 February 2026 verification deadline.
• Winter Fuel Payment letters are being issued in October and November, with most payments of £100 to £300 landing in November or December based on the 15–21 September 2025 qualifying week, and HMRC will reclaim awards from those with taxable income above £35,000.
• Cold Weather Payments of £25 per seven‑day freezing period run from 1 November 2025 to 31 March 2026, with devolved or alternative arrangements applying in Scotland and Northern Ireland for some schemes.