The Warm Home Discount: 2022 / 2023 updates

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What is the Warm Home Discount (WHD)?

The WHD scheme has changed for years 2022 / 2023.

This scheme helps people who need it most cover their high Winter bills. Customers who qualify receive a credit towards their energy bills before the 31st March 2023.

We explain the differences from previous years in this article.

Updated: March 2023


There are now two schemes: one for England and Wales, and one for Scotland.

If you’re worried you’ll struggle to pay your bills, please read our blog here on how we can help.

To jump straight to the WHD scheme information that applies to you:

For answers to the most common questions we get from customers:


England and Wales Warm Home Scheme 2022 / 2023

Key Dates for the WHD scheme

The WHD helpline is now closed to new enquiries.

  • 21 August 2022 this is the qualifying date for a Core Group 1 and Core Group 2 rebate. You must meet the eligibility criteria on this date to be eligible for a rebate. If your benefits claim is backdated to this date or earlier, you may also become eligible for a rebate.
  • 14 November 2022 the WHD helpline opens for the 2022/23 scheme year and is for Core Group 1 and Core Group 2 customers in England and Wales. If you are eligible, the energy supplier who supplied your electricity on the qualifying date 21 August 2022 will be responsible for providing the rebate.
  • Between November 2022 and mid-January 2023, letters will be sent to qualifying customers for Core Group 1 and Core Group 2. The letter will confirm that they are eligible for an automatic rebate or advise you to call a helpline to check if you are eligible.
  • If you have not received a letter by mid-January 2023, but you think you should be eligible for a rebate under Core Group 1 or Core Group 2, please check gov.uk for more information on eligibility and contacting the helpline https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme.
  • The deadline for contacting the helpline is 28 February 2023. If you are advised to call the helpline, it is important that you do so by the deadline, otherwise you will not be eligible for a rebate.
    • You can contact the WHD helpline on 0800 107 8002.

There are two core groups for this scheme: Group 1 (fuel-poor pensioners), and Group 2 (fuel-poor customers).

If you are in either group, you will receive a £150 credit into your energy account.

Core Group 1: £150 for eligible pensioners


To receive the WHD in this group you - or your partner's - name must be on your energy account, and you - or your partner - need to:

  • Receive the ‘Guarantee Credit’ element of Pension Credit.
  • Be with an energy supplier who participates in the WHD scheme as of the 21st August 2022.

If you are in this group you do not need to do anything.

Customers will be contacted in writing by mid-January 2023 to be advised of their eligibility for the scheme.

Core Group 2: £150 for eligible households (Low income/high energy costs)


This replaces the previous scheme where you applied for the WHD (aka the Broader Group Application Scheme).

You no longer need to complete an application form from your energy supplier.

Eligible customers will be identified based on Low Income Criteria and High Energy Costs Criteria.

The qualifying date for meeting these criteria was the 21st August 2022.

The criteria to qualify for this scheme are:

  • Be with an energy supplier who is part of the WHD scheme.
  • Have your name on a bill or account with that supplier.
  • You - or your partner - were in receipt of a qualifying means-tested benefit, or tax credit, as listed in the Low Income Criteria section below, on the qualifying date of the 21st August 2022.
  • Live in a property identified as having high energy costs, which is explained in more detail in the High Energy Costs Criteria section below.

Low Income Criteria

Is based on being in receipt of means-tested benefits or tax credits, which includes:

  • Universal Credit
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
  • Income Support
  • Housing Benefit
  • Pension Credits Savings Credit
  • Child Tax Credits *
  • Working Tax Credits *

* Households in receipt of Tax Credits must be below a household income threshold, adjusted according to household composition. More information can be found here.

If you meet the low income criteria, you also need to meet the new High Energy Costs Criteria.

High Energy Costs Criteria

This criteria is set by the Government department of Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). They will use data from the Valutations Office Agency (VOA) - another Government department - to identify households which are likely to have high energy costs.

The VOA will use the following benchmarks for this:

  1. Floor area: the larger a property, the more likely it is to have higher energy costs
  2. Property age: older properties are likely to have below average energy efficiency and above average floor areas.
  3. Property type: properties with more external walls - like detached houses - generally have lower energy efficiency, and higher energy costs.

BEIS will match property data from the VOA with means-tested benefits and Tax credit data held by DWP and HMRC. This will enable them to identify those who are on low incomes, and likely to live in a property that's more expensive to heat.

Where data on a property is missing, BEIS will consider these additional criteria:

  1. Information on other properties nearby
  2. The Energy Performance Rating (EPC) of a property
  3. Other information available in the Land Registry

Scotland Warm Home Scheme 2022 / 2023

The WHD for Scotland is now closed. Information for the 2023/2024 Warm Home Discount scheme will be announced later this year.


Key Dates for the WHD scheme

The WHD helpline is now closed to new enquiries.

  • 21 August 2022 this is the qualifying date for a Core Group 1 rebate. You must meet the eligibility criteria on this date to be eligible for a rebate. If your benefits claim is backdated to this date or earlier, you may also become eligible for a rebate.
  • 14 November 2022 the WHD helpline will open for the 2022/23 scheme year and is for Core Group 1 customers in Scotland.
  • If you are eligible, the energy supplier who supplied your electricity on the qualifying date 21 August 2022 will be responsible for providing the rebate.
  • Between November 2022 and mid-January 2023, letters will be sent to qualifying customers for Core Group 1. The letter will confirm that they are eligible for an automatic rebate or advise you to call a helpline to check if you are eligible.
  • If you have not received a letter by mid-January 2023, but you think you should be eligible for a rebate under Core Group 1, please contact the WHD helpline on 0800 107 8002.
  • No later than 31 March 2023 your energy supplier will apply the rebate no later than 31 March 2023.

Unlike the Core Group 2 scheme in England and Wales, customers who are on low income and on certain benefits will need to apply for the Broader Group.

This is because Scotland has no equivalent of the Valuations Office Agency (VOA), as referenced in the Core Group 2 criteria for England and Wales.

This means there is no way to identify customers who may fall into the high energy costs criteria, so you will need to provide information as with previous years WHD schemes.

There are two groups for this scheme: the Core Group (fuel-poor pensioners), and the Broader Group (fuel-poor customers).

If you are in either group, you will receive a £150 credit into your energy account.

Core Group: £150 for eligible pensioners


The WHD Helpline is now closed to new enquiries.

To receive the WHD in this group you - or your partner's - name must be on your energy account, and you - or your partner - need to meet these criteria:

  • Receive the ‘Guarantee Credit’ element of Pension Credit.
  • Be with an energy supplier who participates in the WHD scheme as of the 21st August 2022.

If you are in this group you do not need to do anything.

Customers will be contacted in writing by mid-December to be advised of their eligibility for the scheme. They'll send you a letter letting you know whether:

  • You're getting the discount automatically and you'll receive £150 credit into your energy account before the 31st March 2023, or
  • You need to contact the WHD Helpline.

Broader Group: application scheme £150


The WHD Helpline is now closed to new enquiries.
Scotland will maintain the application scheme as per the WHD mechanism for previous years. You can read more about this on the gov.uk site here.

Frequently Asked Questions: WHD for England and Wales

What if I meet the low income criteria and receive a letter saying I have not been automatically matched for WHD?

×

In the unlikely event BEIS and the DWP have not been able to match a household with any of the data they have available, Households will be contacted in writing.

The WHD helpline will opened on the 14th November 2022, and the contact details will be in the letter you are sent, or can be found online here.

Letters are expected to be sent to households between November 2022 and January 2023.

When will I get my payment?

×

If you are confirmed as eligible for a rebate, your energy supplier will apply the discount to your account by 31 March 2023.

Can my payment be applied to my gas account?

×

If we supply you for both electricity and gas as a dual fuel account, the WHD credit will be added to your credit energy account.

If you have a gas account with a different energy supplier to your electricity, we will apply the payment to your electricity account.

I'm on a prepayment meter, how will I be paid?

×

This may be applied as a credit directly to your meter if you are on a Smart Pay As You Go meter or through energy vouchers to top up your traditional pre-pay meter.

Vouchers will be sent by letter if this is your preferred method of contact. Or if you have a registered email on your energy account, your vouchers will be emailed directly from Paypoint from noreply@paypoint.com.

Why are there different schemes in England and Wales and in Scotland?

×

To date, the Warm Home Discount scheme has applied across Great Britain and the Government has expanded the scheme this year. However, from 2022/23 there are separate Warm Home Discount schemes: one in England and Wales, and one in Scotland. The scheme in England and Wales has been reformed to provide more rebates automatically and improves the targeting of support.

These reforms have not been possible in Scotland due to differences in the way data is held, so there is a separate scheme in Scotland.

I live in the borders; how will I know if I am eligible in England and Wales or Scotland?

×

To see if your postcode is a Scottish address, you can use the Scottish Postcode Directory (SPD) | National Records of Scotland (nrscotland.gov.uk).

DWP use this database for determining Scottish postcodes for the Core Groups. It is better to use the full postcode to check where you may be eligible.

What is the Core Group 2?

×

The Broader Group has been replaced in England and Wales with Core Group 2, which has a different eligibility criteria. If you received the WHD as part of the Broader Group last year, you may find that you are no longer eligible for the WHD as part of Core Group 2 this year.

The eligibility criteria are in the 'Core Group 2: £150 for eligible households (Low income/high energy costs)' section above.

They can also be found at: https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme.

How will I know if I qualify?

×

Households that qualify for the Warm Home Discount will be sent a letter from HM Government. Letters are due to be sent to qualifying customers between November 2022 and mid-January 2023, confirming that they are eligible for the rebate and any next steps.

Your letter will say if you will receive a rebate automatically or if you need to call the WHD helpline by 28 February 2023 to confirm your details. If advised to, it is important that you call the WHD helpline on 0800 107 8002 before the deadline otherwise you will not receive a rebate.

Please note that there is no longer a ‘Broader Group’ in England and Wales. You no longer need to apply for the Warm Home Discount through your energy supplier.

If you are eligible, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill by 31 March 2023.

If I have not received a letter and I believe I am eligible, what should I do?

×

If you believe you should be eligible for the Warm Home Discount but have not received a letter confirming your eligibility by mid-January 2023, please contact the WHD helpline on 0800 107 8002 before the 28th February 2023.

I have received a letter advising me to contact the helpline. When should I call?

×

The WHD helpline opened on the 14 November 2022, and can be reached on 0800 107 8002.

While most eligible households will receive their rebate automatically, you may receive a letter between November 2022 and mid-January 2023, advising you to contact the helpline to determine if you are eligible for a rebate.

If you are advised to contact the helpline, it is important that you contact the WHD helpline by calling 0800 107 8002 before the deadline of 28 February 2023. If you do not do so, you will not receive a rebate this winter.

What information will I need when I call the helpline?

×

You'll need:

  • Your letter, which will have your reference number
  • Your electricity bill or statement, as you will need to read out the bill payer’s name and account number

I am eligible and I've switched to a new supplier; will I still receive the payment?

×

The rebate will be paid by the energy company who supplied your electricity on the 21 August 2022. If you have switched your electricity supply since then, you can contact your old supplier to confirm how they will issue your discount.

I am eligible and I've moved house, how will I receive the payment?

×

The rebate will be paid by the energy company who supplied your electricity on the 21 August 2022. If you move house after the 21 August 2022, you can contact your old electricity supplier to confirm your new address and arrange payment.

I am eligible for a rebate, but my supplier has failed. Will I receive a rebate?

×

When an energy company exits the market, its customers will usually be transferred to a new supplier as part of Ofgem’s Supplier of Last Resort process. We would expect your new supplier to provide you with the rebate. For further information, you should check with your new energy supplier.

I live with my partner who is named on the energy bill, but I am eligible under the criteria. Will we receive the discount?

×

Under Core Group 1 or Core Group 2, either you or your partner can be in receipt of the relevant benefit or Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, so long as one of you is listed on the electricity bill or account of a participating supplier.

Your partner must be registered on your record on DWP’s benefit system or you will not be eligible for a rebate.

Frequently Asked Questions: WHD for Scotland

How will I know if my Broader Group application has been successful?

×

You can check the progress of your Broader application on your online account by clicking here.

If your application is successful, the WHD rebate will be added to your energy account, added as credit to your Smart Pay As You Go electric meter or sent to you as energy vouchers from PayPoint, to top up your traditional pre-pay meter, by 31 March 2023.

When will I get my payment?

×

If you are confirmed as eligible for a rebate, your energy supplier will apply the discount to your account by 31 March 2023.

Can my payment be applied to my gas account?

×

If we supply you for both electricity and gas as a dual fuel account, the WHD credit will be added to your credit energy account.

If you have a gas account with a different energy supplier to your electricity, we will apply the payment to your electricity account.

Why are there different schemes in England and Wales and in Scotland?

×

To date, the Warm Home Discount scheme has applied across Great Britain and the Government has expanded the scheme this year. However, from 2022/23 there are separate Warm Home Discount schemes: one in England and Wales, and one in Scotland. The scheme in England and Wales has been reformed to provide more rebates automatically and improves the targeting of support.

These reforms have not been possible in Scotland due to differences in the way data is held, so there is a separate scheme in Scotland.

I live in the borders; how will I know if I am eligible in England and Wales or Scotland?

×

To see if your postcode is a Scottish address, you can use the Scottish Postcode Directory (SPD) | National Records of Scotland (nrscotland.gov.uk).

DWP use this database for determining Scottish postcodes for the Core Groups. It is better to use the full postcode to check where you may be eligible.

How will I know if I qualify?

×

Core Group 1

Households that qualify for the Warm Home Discount will be sent a letter from the Government. Letters are due to be sent to qualifying customers between November 2022 and mid-January 2023, confirming that they are eligible for the rebate and any next steps.

Your letter will say if you will receive a rebate automatically or if you need to call the WHD helpline by 28 February 2023 to confirm your details. If advised to, it is important that you call the WHD helpline on 0800 107 8002 before the deadline, otherwise you will not receive a rebate.

Broader Group

If you are on a low income and/or in receipt of means tested benefits you may be eligible. Apply now and we will review your application

If you are eligible, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill by 31

March 2023.

If I have not received a letter advising me to contact the helpline and I believe I am eligible, what should I do?

×

If you believe you should be eligible for the Core group 1 WHD but have not received a letter confirming your eligibility by mid-January 2023, please check https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme for more information about the scheme or call the WHD helpline on 0800 107 8002.

I have received a letter advising me to contact the helpline. When should I call?

×

The WHD helpline opens 14 November 2022.

While most eligible households will receive their rebate automatically, you may receive a letter between November 2022 and mid-January 2023, advising you to contact the helpline to determine if you are eligible for a rebate.

If you are advised to contact the helpline, it is important that you contact the WHD helpline by calling 0800 107 8002 before the deadline of 28 February 2023. If you do not do so, you will not receive a rebate this winter.

What information will I need when I call the helpline?

×

You'll need:

  • Your letter, which will have your reference number
  • Your electricity bill or statement, as you will need to read out the bill payer’s name and account number

My Broader application has been selected for audit. What do I need to do next?

×

As detailed in the declaration section of your signed application, we sometimes need to ask for documentary evidence to support your application.

This is something we’re regulated to do under the WHD scheme rules to remain compliant.

We will contact you to explain what is needed should you be selected to provide evidence of your eligibility for the scheme.

I am eligible and I've switched to a new supplier; will I still receive the payment?

×

Core Group 1

The rebate will be paid by the energy company who supplied your electricity on the 21 August 2022. If you have switched your electricity supply since then, you can contact your old supplier to confirm how they will issue your discount.

Broader Group

You will need to contact your new supplier to see if they participate in the WHD scheme and re-apply with them

I am eligible and I've moved house, how will I receive the payment?

×

Core Group 1

The rebate will be paid by the energy company who supplied your electricity on the 21 August 2022. If you move house after the 21 August 2022, you can contact your old electricity supplier to confirm your new address and arrange payment.

Broader Group

If you have not received the rebate by the time you have moved house, you will need to contact your new supplier to see if they participate in the WHD scheme and re-apply with them.

I am eligible for a rebate, but my supplier has failed. Will I receive a rebate?

×

Core Group 1

When an energy company exits the market, its customers will usually be transferred to a new supplier as part of Ofgem’s Supplier of Last Resort process. We would expect your new supplier to provide you with the rebate. For further information, you should check with your new energy supplier.

Broader Group

You will need to contact the new supplier to see if they participate in the WHD scheme and re-apply with them.

Published on 25th October 2022 by:

image of Lil Murdoch

Lil Murdoch

Warm Home Discount Operations Manager

Hey I'm Constantine, welcome to Octopus Energy!

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