Millions of households across the UK are set to receive a vital financial boost this winter, as a major expansion of the Warm Home Discount scheme takes effect. For the first time, all Universal Credit claimants now qualify for the one-off £150 payment designed to help with energy costs.
Who Qualifies for the £150 Payment?
The key change this winter is the significant widening of eligibility criteria. Under new rules introduced by the Labour government, everyone receiving Universal Credit is now automatically eligible for the support. Previously, only a portion of claimants met the requirements.
This expansion means a large number of benefit claimants are accessing the Warm Home Discount for the very first time. The scheme also continues to support low-income pensioners who receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit.
How and When Will the Discount Be Applied?
The £150 is not a cash payment. Instead, it is applied directly as a credit to your energy account or issued as a top-up voucher for prepayment meter customers. The exact timing is determined by individual energy suppliers.
Most households will see the discount applied between November and the end of January. A spokesperson for British Gas confirmed the timeline, stating: "If you qualify for the winter 2025/26 payment, you will have your one-off £150 discount applied between November 2025 - March 31, 2026 at the latest, with most customers receiving their WHD before January 2026."
This means January is a key month for many to receive this much-needed cost of living assistance, providing a financial lift at the start of the new year.
A Crucial Winter Support Measure
The expansion of the Warm Home Discount represents a direct intervention to help vulnerable households manage soaring energy bills during the coldest months. The one-off £150 sum can make a substantial difference for budgets that are already stretched thin.
With the scheme now encompassing all Universal Credit recipients, support is reaching a broader demographic of people on low incomes. This move is part of a wider package of measures aimed at tackling the ongoing cost of living crisis affecting families nationwide.
Households do not need to apply for the discount; it should be applied automatically by their energy provider if they meet the eligibility criteria. Those who believe they qualify but have not received the discount by the end of January are advised to contact their supplier directly.
