What energy bill help is available UK 2026?

Current schemes include: Winter Fuel Payment (£200-£300, paid automatically to everyone at State Pension age but clawed back by HMRC above £35,000 income), Warm Home Discount (£150 for eligible households), Cold Weather Payment (during freezing weather), local council crisis support (the Crisis and Resilience Fund in England from April 2026, replacing the Household Support Fund), and energy supplier hardship funds.

Who qualifies for Warm Home Discount UK?

Two groups qualify: the Core Group (receiving Pension Credit Guarantee Credit) get it automatically. The Broader Group — on a qualifying means-tested benefit in England or Wales — is now also usually automatic since the separate 'high cost to heat' property test was dropped. The discount is £150 off your electricity bill, usually applied between November and March. In Scotland, the Broader Group route has been wound down for 2026/27, so the scheme there is effectively Core Group (Pension Credit) only.

How do I get Winter Fuel Payment UK?

If you have reached State Pension age (born on or before 27 June 1960 for winter 2026/27), you should receive it automatically — no application needed. Payment is £200 for those aged 66-79 and £300 for those aged 80 or over, but HMRC will reclaim it through the tax system if your individual income is over £35,000 a year. If you should receive it but haven't, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre. In Scotland, the equivalent payment is delivered separately by Social Security Scotland as the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.

Can I get help with energy bills if I'm not on benefits UK?

Yes. Options include: supplier hardship funds, local council crisis support, charitable grants (British Gas Energy Trust, etc.), water company support, switching to cheaper tariff, energy efficiency grants, and payment plans with your supplier.

Energy Bill Support Schemes UK — Current Help Available | PocketWise

Energy bills remain a concern for many households. Here’s all the help currently available.

If you want the full starting point for UK energy support, including grants, discounts and when to switch from practical energy advice to benefits help, use our Energy Grants, Discounts and Help with Bills hub.

Current Energy Support Schemes

Overview of 2026/27 Support

Scheme	Who For	Amount
Winter Fuel Payment	Households at or above State Pension age	£200-£300 (clawed back above £35,000 individual income)
Warm Home Discount	Low income, certain benefits	£150
Cold Weather Payment	Certain benefit recipients	£25 per week
Local council crisis support	Low income (via council)	Varies
Supplier hardship funds	Struggling customers	Varies

Winter Fuel Payment

What It Is

Feature	Details
Annual payment	For winter heating
Who gets it	Everyone at or above State Pension age
Amount	£200 (aged 66-79) or £300 (aged 80+)
Automatic	Yes, for people at State Pension age

Payment Amounts (winter 2026/27)

Situation	Amount
Aged 66-79	£200
Aged 80 or over	£300
Individual income over £35,000	HMRC reclaims the payment via tax
Live in Scotland	Paid instead as Pension Age Winter Heating Payment by Social Security Scotland

Eligibility for 2026/27

Point	Details
Birth date cutoff	Born on or before 27 June 1960
Basis	Automatic for everyone at or above State Pension age — no longer limited to Pension Credit recipients
Income test	Applied afterwards as a tax clawback (£35,000 individual income threshold), not as an upfront eligibility bar
Background	The payment was restricted to Pension Credit recipients only from winter 2024/25; this was reversed from winter 2025/26 onwards
Check	gov.uk for current rules, as policy has changed more than once since 2024

How You Get It

Method	Details
Automatic	If you’re at or above State Pension age
Paid	November/December
Into	Same account as pension/benefits

Warm Home Discount

What It Is

Feature	Details
One-off discount	On electricity bill
Amount	£150
When applied	November-March (scheme year opens each October)
Who pays	Your electricity supplier

Core Group (Automatic)

Eligible If…	Details
Receiving Pension Credit Guarantee Credit	As of the qualifying date each August
Energy supplier participates	Most large suppliers
Payment	Automatic, no application

Broader Group (Usually Automatic in England & Wales)

Eligible If…	Details
On a qualifying means-tested benefit	E.g. Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Housing Benefit
Property test	Dropped from 2025/26 — receiving the benefit is generally enough on its own
Scotland	Broader Group route wound down for 2026/27 — Scotland is now effectively Core Group only
Assessment	By DWP/HMRC data matching

How to Get It

Situation	Action
Core Group	Automatic — letter confirms
Broader Group (England/Wales)	Usually automatic; some suppliers require application
Check with supplier	If unsure

Cold Weather Payment

What It Is

Feature	Details
Payment	£25 per 7-day cold period
Triggered	When temperature forecast is 0°C or below for 7+ days
Automatic	No claim needed
Multiple payments	Possible in very cold winter

Who Gets It

Eligible If Receiving…	And…
Pension Credit	Any component
Income Support / JSA / ESA (income-based)	With certain premiums or elements
Universal Credit	With certain elements

Elements/Premiums That Qualify

Benefit	Qualifying Element
UC	Limited capability for work, child under 5
IS/JSA/ESA	Disability premium, pensioner premium, child under 5

How You Receive It

Method	Details
Automatically	Based on your postcode
Into	Normal benefits account
Timing	Within 14 working days of the cold spell

Local Council Crisis Support

What It Is

Feature	Details
Government funding	To local councils
Purpose	Help with essential costs
Includes	Energy bills, food, essentials
England	The Household Support Fund ended 31 March 2026; replaced from 1 April 2026 by the Crisis and Resilience Fund, run by the same local councils
Scotland/Wales/NI	Continue via their own schemes (e.g. Scottish Welfare Fund, Discretionary Assistance Fund)
Discretionary	Councils decide criteria

How to Apply

Step	Action
1	Contact your local council
2	Explain your situation
3	Council assesses need
4	Support provided if eligible

What’s Covered

May Help With	Details
Energy bills	Direct payments
Food	Vouchers or bank payments
Essential items	Clothing, household goods
Water bills	Some councils

Supplier Support

Hardship Funds

Supplier	Fund
British Gas	British Gas Energy Trust
EDF	Energy Support Fund
EON	EON Energy Fund
Scottish Power	Hardship Fund
Octopus	Grants available

Confirm current fund names and availability with your own supplier — these change over time.

How to Access

Step	Action
1	Contact your supplier
2	Explain financial difficulty
3	Ask about hardship fund
4	May need to apply separately

Other Supplier Support

Support	Details
Payment plans	Spread debt
Priority Services Register	Extra help if vulnerable
Benefit entitlement checks	Supplier may help
Energy efficiency advice	May be available

Other Help

Charitable Grants

Organisation	Who They Help
British Gas Energy Trust	All, not just BG customers
Turn2us	Grant search tool
StepChange	Debt advice + grant connections
Charis Grants	Various utility grants

Energy Efficiency Schemes

Scheme	Details
ECO4	Free insulation, boilers for eligible households — due to close to new applications by 31 December 2026
Great British Insulation Scheme	Insulation for certain homes
Boiler Upgrade Scheme	£7,500 grant towards an air or ground source heat pump (higher for some off-grid oil/LPG homes on a time-limited basis), runs to 31 March 2028

Priority Services Register

What It Is	Details
Free service	From suppliers
Who for	Disabled, chronically ill, elderly, vulnerable
Benefits	Priority reconnection, meter reading help, bill in accessible format
How to join	Contact your supplier

If You’re Struggling to Pay

Steps to Take

Step	Action
1	Contact supplier before missing payments
2	Ask about payment plans
3	Request hardship fund information
4	Check benefit entitlement
5	Apply for Warm Home Discount if eligible
6	Contact local council for crisis support

Your Rights

Right	Details
Can’t be cut off	If vulnerable (on Priority Services Register)
Payment plans	Supplier must offer affordable options
Can’t force prepayment meter	New rules on forced installation
Debt repayment	Must be affordable

Summary: Energy Help Checklist

Check Eligibility For

Scheme	Who Should Check
Winter Fuel Payment	Everyone at or above State Pension age
Warm Home Discount	Low income, Pension Credit
Cold Weather Payment	On qualifying benefits
Local council crisis support	Anyone struggling
Supplier hardship fund	Anyone in debt/difficulty

Key Actions

Action	Why
Check benefit entitlement	May unlock other support
Join Priority Services Register	If vulnerable
Contact supplier early	Before debts grow
Apply for Warm Home Discount	Before deadline
Check council support	Crisis/hardship fund and local schemes

Useful Contacts

Service	Contact
Citizens Advice	0800 144 8848
Winter Fuel Payment Centre	0800 731 0160
Turn2us (grant search)	turn2us.org.uk
Your council	For crisis/hardship support
Your energy supplier	For hardship help

Don’t struggle in silence — help is available but you usually need to ask or apply.

Energy Bill Support Schemes UK — Current Help Available

Contents

Current Energy Support Schemes

Overview of 2026/27 Support

Winter Fuel Payment

What It Is

Payment Amounts (winter 2026/27)

Eligibility for 2026/27

How You Get It

Warm Home Discount

What It Is

Core Group (Automatic)

Broader Group (Usually Automatic in England & Wales)

How to Get It

Cold Weather Payment

What It Is

Who Gets It

Elements/Premiums That Qualify

How You Receive It

Local Council Crisis Support

What It Is

How to Apply

What’s Covered

Supplier Support

Hardship Funds

How to Access

Other Supplier Support

Other Help

Charitable Grants

Energy Efficiency Schemes

Priority Services Register

If You’re Struggling to Pay

Steps to Take

Your Rights

Summary: Energy Help Checklist

Check Eligibility For

Key Actions

Useful Contacts

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