The Warm Home Discount scheme: what it is and how to apply

What's the Warm Home Discount?

If you receive certain income-based benefits or pension credit, you might be eligible for the Warm Home Discount. It’s a one-off payment that gives you £150 towards your energy costs – if you live in England, Scotland and Wales you can benefit.

The scheme is funded by participating energy suppliers (OVO Energy is one of them) and it’s designed to help people who need it most. The money comes off your energy bill between October and March, rather than being paid directly into your bank account. If you’re on Pay As You Go energy, you’ll get the £150 as credit on your meter.

What’s changed in the Warm Home Discount?

In April 2022 the government announced changes to be made to the Warm Home Discount going forward. We’ve provided a brief overview of the new scheme below.

People who qualify for the Warm Home Discount scheme fit into one of these 3 groups:

• The “core group/core group 1” – people across the UK who get the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit and were OVO electricity customers on the qualifying date (21/08/2022). If you’re in this group, you will be referred automatically for the Warm Home Discount scheme by the Department of Work and Pensions. You or your partner need to be named on the account.
• The “core group 2” – people with low incomes and high energy costs (only customers in England and Wales). If you meet this criteria, you will automatically be paid the Warm Home Discount and will no longer need to apply.
• The “Scottish broader group” – people who receive certain income based benefits and who meet their energy supplier’s criteria for getting the Warm Home Discount (only customers in Scotland can apply for the “broader group”). We've now closed the Scottish broader group applications for 2022/23. Information about next year’s scheme will be available soon.

More ways to get financial support

If you’re struggling financially or you’re worried about your energy bills, we’re here to support you. There are also other ways we can help.

You can find out about other available payment schemes, as well as where to get advice. Our team can also give you this information when you get in touch and they can make sure you receive any financial help you’re eligible for.

I live in England and Wales, how do I apply for the OVO Warm Home Discount?

The Warm Home Discount has changed. Customers from England and Wales no longer need to apply.

Customers in Scotland still have to apply for the “broader group” of Warm Home Discount if they don’t receive the guarantee element of Pension Credit.

The government has created an online tool where customers can check if they’re eligible for the Warm Home Discount.

Please note: we've now closed the Scottish broader group applications for 2022/23. Information about next year’s scheme will be available soon

I live in Scotland, what’s the “broader group” eligibility criteria?

The Warm Home Discount is changing, find out more about the “broader group” eligibility criteria. Eligible customers are given the discount on a first come first served basis.

I live in Scotland, can I register my interest for the broader group?

There isn’t the option to register your interest for the broader group at the moment. We’ll update this space as soon as applications are open, this should be around mid-late October 23/24.