Millions of Britons get free £150 payment this winter to help with energy bills - are you eligible?

The Warm Home Discount scheme is available in England, Wales, and Scotland.

Those living in England and Wales do not need to apply for the scheme, but those living in Scotland do.

The discount is applied to one's energy account rather than cash into their bank account.

Some people may be given a top-up voucher instead if they are a prepayment meter customer.

Those on dual fuel can ask their energy supplier if it is possible to have the discount applied to their gas bill instead.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, which administers the £150 Warm Home Discount, says households must have an active claim for any of the following benefits to be eligible:

• Guaranteed credit element for Pension Credit
• The "Savings Credit" part of the Pension Credit
• Income support
• Income-based jobseeker's allowance
• Income-related employment and support allowance
• Housing benefit
• Universal Credit
• Child tax credit
• Working tax credits

However it should be noted that claimants will not be eligible for the payment if they weren't receiving any of these benefits on August 11, 2024 - the qualifying date.

However, even if someone wasn't receiving Pension Credit on the qualifying date of August 11, they may be able to still claim the cash.

This is because the eligibility for certain benefits can be backdated. For example, a successful Pension Credit claim can be backdated by three months.

Claims for Universal Credit can also be backdated by one month.

Next, to check if someone is eligible, individuals should see if their energy supplier is signed up to the Warm Home Discount scheme.

If their supplier is taking part, they should get the payment automatically.

Households in England and Wales will get a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) between October 2024 and early January 2025 telling them:

• They're eligible and you'll get the discount automatically
• They might be eligible, and they need to give more information.
• The letter will tell them to call the helpline by February 29, 2025 to confirm their details.

If someone does not get the letter by early January 2025 and they think they're eligible, they need to call the helpline on 0800 030 9322.

If someone is eligible, their electricity supplier will apply the discount to their bill by March 31, 2025.

People living in Scotland and claiming benefits will need to apply for the Warm Home Discount through their supplier under the “broader group” criteria.

Their electricity supplier may have extra eligibility criteria, as it is up to them who gets the discount in Scotland.

The Warm Home Discount scheme is not available in Northern Ireland.