Free payments worth £150 begin for British Gas, EDF, EON, Ovo, Octopus customers

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Warm Home Discount scheme is beginning across the country in a major Cost of Living boost.

FREE payments worth £150 have began for British Gas, EDF, EON, OVO and Octopus energy customers. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Warm Home Discount scheme is beginning across the country in a major Cost of Living boost.

Households in England and Wales don't have to apply to get the cash and receive it automatically. One EDF customer on Facebook yesterday: "Has anyone got their Warm Home Discount of £150 as we have had ours this afternoon added to our smart meter."

Another customer responded and said: "Mine came through today too." And another Ovo Energy customer also said on Facebook this morning: "Woke up this morning to the Warm Home Discount applied to my meter!"

READ MORE State pensioners waking up to free £150 payment that's 'automatic'

Another added: "Same! I haven't been entitled the last few years, so I don't know what’s changed!" You first need to see if your energy supplier is signed up to the Warm Home Discount scheme - there is a list on GOV.UK. If your supplier is on this list, then you should get the payment automatically if you, or your partner, receive the Guarantee Credit portion of Pension Credit - this is known as “core group one”.

You, or your partner, need to have been claiming Pension Credit on the qualifying date, which for this winter was August 11. You should also get the discount automatically in England and Wales if you claim certain benefits and have high energy costs.

You can check if you're eligible to receive the discount using the GOV.UK Warm Home Discount online tool. If you live in Scotland and you claim benefits, you’ll need to apply for the Warm Home Discount through your supplier under the “broader group” criteria. Your electricity supplier may have extra eligibility criteria, as it is up to them who gets the discount in Scotland.

If you haven't received your Warm Home Discount letter by early January, you can call the Warm Home Discount helpline on 0800 030 9322. You must contact this helpline before February 28, 2025. The Warm Home Discount scheme is not available in Northern Ireland.