The short version
The £150 Warm Home Discount 2026-27 payment turns on a single date: Sunday 23 August 2026, now days away rather than months. A household must hold a qualifying benefit and a participating supplier account on that day to be counted into this year's scheme.
Around 6 million households are expected to qualify, split between the automatic Core Group and application-based Broader Group. Most large suppliers take part, though Fuse Energy and HomeEnergy do not carry the 2026-27 obligation.
The Warm Home Discount qualifying date: why one day decides your 2026-27 discount
DWP and DESNZ take a data snapshot on the qualifying date, matching benefit records against supplier accounts. A household on a qualifying benefit with a participating supplier on 23 August 2026 is counted in; the same household a week either side of that date is not.
A benefit award that starts on 27 August 2026, four days after the qualifying date, carries entitlement into the following scheme year, 2027-28, not the current one.
If your benefit award is changing around 23 August 2026: a new award starting even a few days later misses this year's snapshot, and one ending just before the date can also drop a household out of the match. Confirm your status with your supplier once the scheme year details are live.
Warm Home Discount Core Group vs Broader Group: how the £150 is awarded
The Warm Home Discount Broader Group works differently from Core Group, as the table below shows.
| Route | Who qualifies | Do you need to apply | When it lands |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Group | Households receiving Pension Credit, Guarantee Credit element, on 23 August 2026 | No. DWP data-matches against supplier records automatically. | Applied directly to the electricity account, typically by early January 2027 |
| Broader Group | Households on other means-tested benefits, such as Universal Credit, meeting a supplier's own low-income criteria | Sometimes - some suppliers auto-match via DWP data, others require a direct application. | Confirmed within six to eight weeks of applying, usually before the scheme year closes |
Warm Home Discount Universal Credit claimants fall under the Broader Group, where funding is allocated supplier by supplier, not centrally, so applications can close early once an allocation fills. Apply as soon as the window opens if you are not auto-matched.
Which suppliers offer Warm Home Discount 2026-27
The obligation applies to suppliers above a set domestic-customer threshold; suppliers below it are not required to take part for 2026-27.
| Takes part in 2026-27 (obligated) | Not obligated for 2026-27, check directly |
|---|---|
| British Gas, Octopus Energy, E.ON Next, OVO Energy, EDF Energy, ScottishPower | Fuse Energy |
| Utilita, Utility Warehouse, So Energy, Co-operative Energy | HomeEnergy |
| Outfox the Market, Boost, London Power, Sainsbury's Energy, E (Gas & Electricity) | Tulo Energy, Good Energy, Ecotricity, 100Green, Ebico Living |
Fuse Energy and HomeEnergy customers should not assume the discount applies automatically; both sit below the mandatory threshold for 2026-27, so it is worth checking directly for any voluntary equivalent.
Warm Home Discount and price cap: your net bill position
Ofgem confirmed the Q3 2026 cap at £1,862 for a typical dual-fuel household. The Q4 October 2026 forecast, due on 26 August 2026, ranges from roughly £1,804 to £1,929 depending on the benchmark used.
For an eligible household, the £150 rebate applies on top of whichever figure Ofgem confirms. On the mid-range £1,849 forecast from SwitchInsights research on the Q4 2026 forecast, that brings the effective annual position to roughly £1,699, below the confirmed Q3 cap.
Net position for an eligible household: whichever way the Q4 cap lands, the £150 offsets most or all of a forecast rise, though it does not cover the standing charge or above-benchmark usage.
How to check your Warm Home Discount eligibility right now
- Use the Warm Home Discount eligibility checker on GOV.UK. Warm Home Discount Pension Credit recipients get an instant Core Group confirmation.
- Contact your supplier's Warm Home Discount team directly for Broader Group criteria, which vary supplier by supplier.
- Confirm your supplier is on the obligated list, especially if you are with a smaller or newer supplier.
- Keep your benefit award letter to hand for any Broader Group application.
Warm Home Discount not received: what to do next
Core Group credits typically reach accounts between October and early January, so silence in mid-August is not yet a concern. If nothing has arrived by early winter:
- Check your supplier's Warm Home Discount page for 2026-27, then call their team and quote your benefit award letter.
- If you applied to a Broader Group scheme, confirm the window has not closed on funding.
- After eight weeks unresolved, complain formally, then escalate to the Energy Ombudsman.
Switching supplier and the Warm Home Discount: what it risks
A Warm Home Discount switching supplier decision is generally safe between two obligated suppliers around 23 August 2026, since the Core Group match runs against whichever participating account holds your details on the qualifying date.
The risk sits with switching to a non-obligated supplier. If a household on a qualifying benefit moves to Fuse Energy, HomeEnergy, or another supplier below the threshold around the qualifying date, DWP's match finds no participating account, and the household falls outside the scheme that year.
SwitchInsights' take: if the discount matters to your winter budget, hold off switching to a non-obligated supplier until your 2026-27 payment is confirmed. See our coverage of the scheme's wider expansion for how eligibility has changed. Switching between two obligated suppliers carries far less risk, but time it deliberately, not on a renewal reminder.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Warm Home Discount 2026-27 qualifying date?
The qualifying date is Sunday 23 August 2026. Households must hold a qualifying benefit and a participating supplier account on that date to be counted into the 2026-27 scheme year.
What is the difference between Core Group and Broader Group?
Core Group payments (Pension Credit) are matched automatically by DWP data, no application needed. Broader Group cases, such as Universal Credit, are assessed against each supplier's own criteria, sometimes needing a direct application.
Is Fuse Energy in the Warm Home Discount scheme? What about HomeEnergy?
No. Both sit below the mandatory domestic-customer threshold for 2026-27, alongside Tulo Energy, Good Energy, Ecotricity, 100Green and Ebico Living. None carry the obligation this scheme year - check directly with them for any voluntary support.
Does the £150 cover the Q4 2026 price cap rise?
On Q4 2026 forecasts of roughly £1,804 to £1,929 against the confirmed Q3 cap of £1,862, the £150 offsets most or all of any forecast rise.
How do I check my Warm Home Discount eligibility?
Use the Warm Home Discount eligibility checker on GOV.UK, which confirms Core Group status instantly, or contact your supplier's Warm Home Discount team directly for Broader Group criteria.
Does switching supplier now risk my Warm Home Discount?
Switching between two obligated suppliers around 23 August 2026 is generally safe. Switching to a non-obligated supplier close to the qualifying date can mean DWP's match finds no participating account to pay the discount to.