State pensioners on a low income who are claiming one of six means-tested benefits can get a £150 discount off their British Gas bill.
The discount is part of the Warm Home Discount scheme that has been extended by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for 2024/25 to help vulnerable households that are in, or at risk of, fuel poverty this winter.
The discount is applied directly to your bill by British Gas if you’re eligible, rather than as a direct payment to you.
There are different ways to qualify for the support depending on where you live. If you live in England and Wales, you’ll get it if you receive either the Guarantee element of Pension Credit, or if you’re on a low income, have high energy costs and claim any of these six qualifying benefits:
Housing Benefit
income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
Income Support
the ‘Savings Credit’ part of Pension Credit
Universal Credit
You could also qualify if your household income falls below a certain threshold and you get either Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit.
If you live in Scotland, the same criteria applies but you must also meet your energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme. Unfortunately, the scheme is not available to anyone who lives in Northern Ireland.
You should receive a letter between October 2024 and January 2025 if you’re eligible, confirming that you don’t need to do anything and the discount will be applied automatically.
You should get the £150 discount by March 31, 2025, and this will be taken off your energy bill directly by British Gas.
But it’s not just British Gas taking part in the scheme as there are more than 20 other suppliers taking part. So if you’re with any of the following energy suppliers you’ll also get the £150 discount:
100Green (formerly Green Energy UK or GEUK)
Affect Energy – see Octopus Energy
Boost
Bulb Energy – see Octopus Energy
Co-op Energy – see Octopus Energy
E – also known as E (Gas and Electricity)
Ecotricity
E.ON Next
EDF
Fuse Energy
Good Energy
Home Energy
London Power
Octopus Energy
Outfox the Market
OVO
Rebel Energy
Sainsbury’s Energy
Scottish Gas – see British Gas
ScottishPower
Shell Energy Retail
So Energy
Tomato Energy
TruEnergy
Utilita
Utility Warehouse
If you think you’re eligible for the discount but don’t receive a letter by early January 2025, you should contact the Warm Home Discount Scheme helpline on 0800 030 9322 before the deadline of February 28, 2025.
