Thousands of Scots to receive letters confirming £150 energy bill discount this winter

Hundreds of thousands more households in Scotland are set to receive help with their energy costs this winter, with letters landing on doormats confirming eligibility for a £150 discount.

The support comes through the UK Government’s Warm Home Discount scheme, which has been expanded and simplified for many Scottish households.

What is the Warm Home Discount?

The Warm Home Discount is a one-off £150 rebate applied directly to electricity bills during the winter months.

It is designed to help pensioners, low-income households and vulnerable families cope with energy costs.

Who will get it?

Around 345,000 Scottish households will receive the discount automatically this winter – an increase of around 250,000 households compared with previous years.

Across Britain, around six million households are expected to benefit from the scheme.

Why are more Scottish households getting it?

Previously, many people in Scotland had to contact their energy supplier and claim the discount themselves.

Changes to the system mean most eligible households will now receive the rebate automatically, bringing Scotland more closely into line with England and Wales, where automatic payments are already more common.

What should households look out for?

Letters are being sent out from now until January 2027. The correspondence will tell people one of two things:

• They will receive the £150 discount automatically; or
• They need to contact the Warm Home Discount helpline and provide additional information.

Anyone asked to phone the helpline must do so before 26 February, 2027 to make sure they receive the payment.

Who qualifies?

Households likely to qualify automatically include:

• People receiving Pension Credit.
• People receiving Universal Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Support for Mortgage Interest who also receive certain disability-related payments or premiums.
• Some households with responsibility for a child under five.

Some households that do not qualify automatically may still be eligible through the scheme’s broader group provisions. Those people should check directly with their energy supplier.

How will the money be paid?

The £150 is not usually paid into a bank account. Instead, it is credited directly to an eligible household’s electricity bill.

That means recipients should see the reduction reflected on their energy account during the winter.