Latest news with #GuaranteeCredit
Scottish Sun
24-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Full list of 22 energy firms offering free £150 payout to millions of households
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MILLIONS of households with 22 suppliers are in line for £150 discounts on their energy bills. The Warm Home Discount is a one-off deduction on your electricity and sometimes gas bill. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Millions of households will get the Warm Home Discount this winter Credit: Getty The discount is usually applied automatically between October and March when households use more energy. It is issued to people in England, Wales and Scotland on certain means-tested benefits including Universal Credit. Not all firms are signed up to the scheme though, with a list of the 22 that are on the Government website. This is the full list of energy firms signed up to the Warm Home Discount scheme: 100Green (formerly Green Energy UK or GEUK) British Gas/Scottish Gas E - also known as E (Gas and Electricity) Ecotricity Next EDF Fuse Energy Good Energy Home Energy London Power Octopus Energy Outfox the Market OVO Rebel Energy Sainsbury's Energy ScottishPower Shell Energy Retail So Energy Tomato Energy TruEnergy Utilita Utility Warehouse Who is eligible for the Warm Home Discount scheme? There are different ways to qualify for the Warm Home Discount scheme based on where you live. Households in England and Wales are eligible if they fit into two "core" groups. Core group one applies to households where someone receives the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit. Core group two applies to households on the following benefits: Housing Benefit income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) Income Support the "Savings Credit" part of Pension Credit Universal Credit How to cut energy costs and get help with FOUR key household bills You will need to have been claiming either the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit or the other qualifying benefits on August 24 this year to be eligible for the Warm Home Discount in 2025/26. Households in Scotland are also bunched into two groups based on their circumstances. Those on the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, known as "core group", get the £150 discount automatically applied. Other Scottish households in the "broader group" on certain means-tested benefits qualify for the discount but have to apply via their energy firm. Energy firms should tell you what benefits qualify you for the discount and may set extra criteria for you to meet as well. For the 2024/25 year, households in England, Wales or Scotland in core group two or the broader group had to live in a property with a high energy cost score as well be on benefits to qualify for the Warm Home Discount. However, this criteria has been scrapped for this winter meaning 2.7million more households will get it. You can still qualify for the Warm Home Discount if you have a prepayment meter. Your supplier will tell you how you'll get a discount. This might be a voucher you can use to top up your meter. If you qualify for the Warm Home Discount, you should receive a letter telling you. These are usually sent between October and January. OTHER ENERGY BILL HELP If you don't qualify for the Warm Home Discount you might be able to get help with energy bills through the Household Support Fund. The current round of the fund is worth £742million and has been shared between councils in England. They then have to distribute their share and set their own eligibility criteria on who can get help. You might be able to get free money direct into your bank account or vouchers to cover the cost of energy. If you've fallen into energy debt, you might be able to get a grant to wipe it clear through your energy firm too. British Gas and Octopus Energy, the UK's two biggest energy suppliers, both have schemes, as well as others. Are you missing out on benefits? YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to Charity Turn2Us' benefits calculator works out what you could get. Entitledto's free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit. and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto's data. You can use Policy in Practice's calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you'll have left over each month after paying for housing costs. Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Daily Mirror
19-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Warm Home Discount explained as 2.7million households set for £150 energy help
In new plans confirmed this week, an extra 2.7 million households will be entitled to the Warm Home Discount this winter - this would increase the number of eligible people to over six million Millions more households will be eligible for £150 off their energy bills this winter as the Warm Home Discount scheme is set to be expanded. The Warm Home Discount gives you £150 directly off your electricity bill. In new plans confirmed this week, an extra 2.7 million households will be entitled to the Warm Home Discount this winter. This would increase the number of eligible people to over six million in total. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: 'Millions of families will get vital support with the cost of living this coming winter, demonstrating this government's commitment to put money in people's pockets through our Plan for Change.' What is the Warm Home Discount? The £150 discount is applied to your energy account, as opposed to a direct cash payment into your bank. It is normally applied between October and March. If you're a prepayment meter, you will be sent a top-up voucher. If you live in England and Wales and you are eligible for the Warm Home Discount, you should receive it automatically. The rules are different in Scotland, where you may need to apply. Who is eligible for the Warm Home Discount - and how is it changing? If you live in England and Wales, you currently qualify for the Warm Home Discount if you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, or you claim means-tested benefits and have high energy costs. But the Government has now confirmed the high-cost-to-heat threshold for the Warm Home Discount in England and Wales, meaning you will now qualify just based on the benefits you claim. If you live in Scotland, you qualify if you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, or you claim a means-tested benefit. Your electricity supplier may have extra eligibility criteria. If you claim Pension Credit in Scotland, then you will get the Warm Home Discount automatically - otherwise, you will need to apply. The level of spend available in Scotland for suppliers is also increasing from this winter. How many more people will get Warm Home Discount? The number of families who will receive the discount for the first time, broken down by region, include: North East England: 100,000 North West England: 280,000 Yorkshire and the Humber: 210,000 East Midlands: 160,000 West Midlands: 270,000 East of England: 250,000 London: 570,000 South East England: 350,000 South West England: 220,000 Wales: 110,000 Scotland: 240,000 Other ways to cut your energy bill If you're struggling, your first step should be to contact your energy provider and ask what help is available. You should ideally do this before you fall behind on a payment. Some of the tailored support you may be offered includes a payment plan, payment breaks and affordable debt repayments. It is also worth asking them if you're definitely on their cheapest deal. If you're a prepayment energy customer and you're worried about running out of power, you should be able to access emergency credit. This is usually worth between £5 and £10, but some may offer more than this - for example, Utilita gives customers up to £15. You should also check if your energy firm offers hardship funds or grants that you don't need to pay back. For example, the British Gas Energy Trust offers help worth up to £2,000. In the winter, there are Cold Weather Payments worth £25 that are issued when the average temperature is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0C or below over seven consecutive days. This is available to people on certain benefits. There are also Winter Fuel Payments worth up to £300 for pensioner households. Finally, the following charities can offer you support if you are struggling to pay for your energy, or if you are in energy debt:
Daily Mirror
30-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
People over state pension age may be due benefits worth thousands
There are a range of discounts, benefits, and grants available to those over the state pension age - and you could be eligible without even knowing it There are 13 million people over the state pension age of 66 in the UK. But only 1.7 million receive the full new state pension of £230.25 per week. As a result, potentially millions may be unaware of the additional support, benefits and discounts they are owed. The official MoneyHelper website has compiled a list of bonuses that could supplement your retirement income, without affecting state pension payments, as reported by the Daily Record. One of the first points to check is your state pension. Recent errors have resulted in people being underpaid by thousands in their state pensions, so checking your National Insurance record could provide a hefty increase in your retirement income. You need a full 35 years of National Insurance contributions to receive the £230.25 per week and at least 10 to qualify for any of the new state pension. If you are not receiving the full state pension amount, you might be eligible for Pension Credit. This income supplement can add £4,300 each year and also grants access to a variety of other benefits and discounts, such as a free TV licence for those over 75. provides a Pension Credit calculator which can help determine if you're eligible for this support. Currently, Pension Credit is one of the most underclaimed benefits, with eligible individuals missing out on approximately £1.5 billion each year. A variety of health benefits are available to help cover the extra costs associated with illnesses and disabilities, some of which are exclusively for individuals over the state pension age. If you claimed PIP or DLA before reaching the state pension age, you might still be eligible to continue getting your award until it expires. On the other hand, Attendance Allowance is made specifically for disabled or ill people over the state pension age. It can range from £73.90 to £110.40 per week, depending on the level of assistance or supervision required. Beyond the benefits system, there are numerous discounts available for those over the state pension age. This includes assistance with council tax, regardless of whether you rent or own your property. If you receive a disability or carer's benefit or the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit, you could be entitled to a larger council tax reduction. The latter might even cover your entire council tax bill. Another discount available to those over the state pension age is a free passport. To qualify, you must have been born on or before 2 September 1929 and be a British national. Lastly, a variety of travel concessions and schemes are available to those aged 60 and above. These include the 60+ London Oyster photocard, the Freedom Pass, Senior Railcards and free bus passes.
Daily Mirror
01-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Households on benefits including Universal Credit urged to act today to get cheap broadband
The deal offers average speeds of 36Mbps and is available only to those claiming certain benefits, including Universal Credit, Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit), Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker's Allowance and Income Support BT is increasing the cost of its Home Essentials social broadband tariff from tomorrow - but you can still lock in the current price if you act today. The price of this package is rising from £15 to £16 a month from May 2. The deal offers average speeds of 36Mbps and is available only to those claiming certain benefits, including Universal Credit, Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit), Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker's Allowance and Income Support. BT will ask for your National Insurance number when you apply to check you are eligible. There is also a faster deal with 67Mbps for £23 a month, which is due to rise to £24 tomorrow. Those who sign up tonight will lock in the current prices for 12 months. Keep in mind there is an upfront fee of £12 for postage and packaging. However, there are cheaper social broadband tariffs available - you can see the full list from Ofcom below. A BT spokesperson said: "We're committed to providing support to our customers when they need it most - so we're continuing to offer low-income customers a range of connectivity options. "From 2nd May 2025, new customers can now join our broadband social tariff Home Essentials, which offers the cheapest quality connectivity for zero income customers from £16 a month. Our yearly eligibility checks ensure we're offering customers the right tariffs at the right time." Get the best deals and tips from Mirror Money WHATSAPP GROUP: Get money news and top deals straight to your phone by joining our Money WhatsApp group here. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Full list of broadband and mobile social tariffs These are the current social tariffs listed by Ofcom. Check each tariff online to see which benefits you need to be claiming in order to take out one of these deals. Work allowance 4th Utility Social Tariff - £13.99 a month, 30Mbps (England) BT Home Essentials No Income - £15 a month, 36Mbps (UK) price increasing on May 2 BT Home Essentials Fibre Essential - £20 a month, 36Mbps (UK) price increasing on May 2 BT Home Essentials Fibre 2 - £23 a month, 67Mbps (UK) price increasing on May 2 Community Fibre Essential - £12.50 a month, 35Mbps (London) Connect Fibre Essentials - £25 a month, 150Mbps (Cambridgeshire, Essex, Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire and Derbyshire) Country Connect Social Tariff - £15 a month, 50Mbps (Newport) County Broadband Essential Broadband Tariff - £15 a month, 15Mbps (East of England) EE Basics - £12 a month, up to 25Mbps (UK) Fibrus Full Fibre Essential - £14.99 a month, 50Mbps (Northern Ireland and Cumbria) Essential Fibre Broadband - £15 a month, 50Mbps (London) Grayshott Gigabit Connect - £19 a month, 100Mbps (England) Hey! Broadband Everyday Fibre - £16 a month, 100Mbps (South East England) Hyperoptic Fair Fibre - £15 a month, 50Mbps (England, Scotland, Wales) Hyperoptic Fair Fibre - £20 a month, 150Mbps (England, Scotland, Wales) KCOM Full Fibre Flex - £14.99 a month, 30Mbps (Hull) Lightning Fibre Social Tariff - £15 a month, 50Mbps (East Sussex and Kent) Lothian Broadband Social Tariff - £19.99 a month, 100Mbps (Lothian) NOW Broadband Basics - £20 a month, 36Mbps (UK) Quickline Social Tariff - £16.50 a month, 100Mbps (Yorkshire and Lincolnshire) RunFibre social tariff - £20 a month, 100Mbps (South Gloucestershire) Sky Broadband Basics - £20 a month, 36 Mbps (UK) SMARTY Social Tariff - £12 a month, 5G where available (UK) Toob Essentials - £20 a month, 50Mbps (South West) TalkTalk - FREE for six months through Jobcentre, 38Mbps (UK) Truespeed Basic - £20 a month, 30Mbps (South West England) Virgin Media Essential Broadband - £12.50 a month, 15Mbps (UK) Virgin Media Essential Broadband Plus - £20 a month, 54 Mbps (UK) Vodafone Fibre 2 Essentials - £20 per month, 73Mbps (UK) VOXI For Now - £10 a month, 5G where available (UK) Wildanet Helping Hand Social Tariff - £20 a month, 30-100Mpbs (Cornwall and Devon) WightFibre Essential Broadband - £16.50 a month, 100Mbps (Isle of Wight) YouFibre Social Tariff - £15 a month, 50Mbps (various locations) How to cut your broadband and mobile bill If your broadband or mobile contract is expiring, check prices elsewhere using a comparison website to see what other deals are available. When comparing broadband deals, take a look at your current speed, and for mobile, how many minutes, texts and data you use. You may find you're actually paying too much right now for speeds you don't really need, or allowances you're not using. If you've found a cheaper deal, you can switch to this if you're out of contract. Alternatively, you may want to haggle down your current provider. When haggling, explain the better deals you've seen elsewhere then ask if the company can match or beat that price. The best time to try and negotiate a better deal is near the end of your contract or, in some cases, when a price rise has been announced. You may be able to leave penalty-free when a mid-contract price rise is announced, although not if the price rise was already written into your contract.
