Warm Home Discount 2025-26

HillStreetBlues

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2kym1pvn4o
Welcome news that from 2025-26 you won't need to have a high energy cost, all those on mean-tested benefits will get it.

Worth noting that the Government chose  18/6/25 to announce it, the exact same day they issued the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill  which will at some point will make over 3 million people poorer.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/mar/26/more-than-3m-britons-to-lose-out-from-benefits-cuts

EDIT Should point out the forum rules about political discussions, I've just highlighted two Government announcements. 
EDIT 2 added covering years to title.

Dizzycap

HillStreetBlues said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2kym1pvn4o
Welcome news that from 2025-26 you won't need to have a high energy cost, all those on mean-tested benefits will get it.

Worth noting that the Government chose  18/6/25 to announce it, the exact same day they issued the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill ** which at some point will remove PIP for over 1/3 of a million people.

** Utterly Disgraceful! A high propertion of those 1/3 of a million actually work and now won't get funds for carer help/support to be able to go to work daily. They will simply have to leave their jobs because they can't afford to pay for everything, and will then claim far more via the benefit system than the amount they presently receive via PIP. 

Robbie64

It makes sense to extend the Warm Home Discount to all on means tested benefits as the previous (current) scheme was proving to be problematic. People who should have qualified were having to jump through hoops to get it while people who weren't named on the electric bill were getting letters to say that they qualified.

The devil will be in the detail though, which has yet to be announced. That will most likely be that qualification will most likely be linked to receipt of a means tested benefit on a particular date. With similarities to the recent Cost Of Living payments, some people may find they don't qualify as they didn't get a UC payment during the qualifying period.

HillStreetBlues

Thought I would look back at my WHD from 10 years ago,  my electric service charge was 9p a day and WHD £140 leaving me £107.15 in credit over the year.
Now WHD is £150  but SC is 60p a day,  now I'm £69 in debt.
Then there is the unit rate that nearly trebled over that period.

Mum161111

Although I am not eligible for any means tested benefits ,I receive a disability benefit and came within the low income bracket to be eligible The Warm Home Scotland (Broader Group) last winter paid via my energy provider.  

Is it too soon to know if the same conditions mentioned hereare likely apply to The Warm Home Scotland (Broader Broup) this winter?  The Warm Home Discount schemes were different for Scotland last year.

Soon after the change in Winter Fuel Payment for England and Wales, Scotland changed to keep in line with it so it makes me think the Warm Home Discount might change to be in keeping with England and Wales.

Spoonie_Turtle

Robbie64 said:

It makes sense to extend the Warm Home Discount to all on means tested benefits as the previous (current) scheme was proving to be problematic. People who should have qualified were having to jump through hoops to get it while people who weren't named on the electric bill were getting letters to say that they qualified.

The devil will be in the detail though, which has yet to be announced. That will most likely be that qualification will most likely be linked to receipt of a means tested benefit on a particular date. With similarities to the recent Cost Of Living payments, some people may find they don't qualify as they didn't get a UC payment during the qualifying period.

There is already a qualifying date for the WHD (and indeed Winter Fuel Payment).  The qualifying date determines which supplier is responsible for paying each payment and therefore allocation of funds, even if the person subsequently switches to a different supplier.  I suppose we didn't hear about people not getting it for that reason because most people were missing out due to living in a non-qualifying property, or having to jump through the hoops you mention.

Yamor

There isn't much more detail to be announced. They are simply removing the requirement to meet the 'high energy cost' condition.

The qualifying date has generally been the second Sunday in August in previous years.

See the link below for the formal eligibility statement from last year. I assume this year's will be exactly the same, just with the withdrawal of the high energy cost condition, and the qualifying date changing to 10th August. Tax credits will probably be removed as a qualifying benefit, as no one is on tax credits any more.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66dafb47608fb761b68111cf/warm-home-discount-eligibility_statement-2024.pdf

See also the consultation document linked below about this change, which also suggests the only change being made is to remove the high energy cost condition.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67bda7d4b0d253f92e213c25/expanding-the-warm-home-discount-scheme-2025-to-2026.pdf

luvchocolate

I get some housing benefit...fingers crossed 

tinalouise69

Is council tax benefit going to be included. It's a mean tested benefit but from what I've read it doesn't seem to be qualifying. Thanks

luvchocolate

tinalouise69 said:

Is council tax benefit going to be included. It's a mean tested benefit but from what I've read it doesn't seem to be qualifying. Thanks

Council tax benefit doesn't appear to be on the list 

Newcad

Council Tax Reduction is not an "Income Related benefit".

Whilst it is Income Related it is not classed as a "Benefit".
That's because:

1. It does not pay anything to anybody. (It's a reduction of what you have to pay to your council).
2. It is not administered by Central Government. (The DWP or HMRC).

Think about it another way - If CTR was an Income Related benefit then it would be being migrated into UC like all of the old IR benefits are.