Overview
- More than six million households qualify after the scheme’s June expansion, including around 900,000 families with children and 1.8 million homes in fuel poverty.
- The £150 is applied by electricity suppliers automatically or via a voucher, and some customers can have it credited to gas if the same supplier provides both fuels.
- Government letters confirming status are being issued October through January 2026, with final credits expected on accounts by March 31, 2026.
- Eligibility depends on being the named billpayer with a participating supplier and receiving specific means‑tested benefits or meeting low‑income criteria; Scotland has supplier‑set rules for some low‑income claimants and Northern Ireland is not covered.
- The DWP says do not give details to callers claiming you must apply by phone, pre‑pay customers can still receive the discount, and checks use an August 24, 2025 eligibility snapshot.