Exact date 100,000s of households need to claim key benefits to qualify for £150 cost of living cash revealed
ACT ON IT Exact date 100,000s of households need to claim key benefits to qualify for £150 cost of living cash revealed
HUNDREDS of thousands of households will need to claim benefits on a specific day to qualify for this year's Warm Home Discount.
The eligibility requirements for the scheme, which automatically credits £150 to a customer's energy account, are similar to last year.
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Between October and December, the government will issue letters to households that qualify for the scheme
Credit: Getty
There are two Warm Home Discount schemes - one for England and Wales, and one for Scotland.
Those living in England and Wales do not need to apply for the scheme, but those living in Scotland do.
Between October and December, the government will issue letters to households that qualify for the scheme.
However, to be eligible for the discount, you need to be claiming one of nine means-tested benefits on a specific date this month.
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The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, which administers the Warm Home Discount, says households must have an active claim for any of the following benefits on Sunday, August 24:
Guaranteed credit element fo pension credit
Income support
Income based jobseeker's allowance
Income related employment and support allowance
Housing benefit
Universal Credit
The "Savings Credit" part of pension credit
If you aren't claiming any of these benefits on August 24, 2025, you won't be eligible for the payment.
However, even if you aren't receiving pension credit on the qualifying date, there's a trick you can follow to ensure that you get the extra cash later.
This is because your eligibility for certain benefits can be backdated.
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For example, successful pension credit claims can be backdated by three months.
Could you be eligible for Pension Credit?
Claims for Universal Credit can be backdated by one month.
Around 700,000 pensioners are eligible for pension credit but not claiming it.
What is pension credit and how do you apply?
PENSION credit tops up your weekly income to £227.10 if you are single or to £346.60 if you have a partner.
This is known as "guarantee credit".
If your income is lower than this, you're very likely to be eligible for the benefit.
However, if your income is slightly higher, you might still be eligible for pension credit if you have a disability, you care for someone, you have savings or you have housing costs.
You could get an extra £82.90 a week if you have a disability or claim any of the following: Attendance allowance
The middle or highest rate from the care component of disability living allowance (DLA)
The daily living component of personal independence payment (PIP)
Armed forces independence payment
The daily living component of adult disability payment (ADP) at the standard or enhanced rate.
You could get the "savings credit" part of pension credit if both of the following apply: You reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016
You saved some money for retirement, for example, a personal or workplace pension
This part of pension credit is worth £17.30 for single people or £19.36 for couples.
Claims for pension credit also open doors to a number of freebies and discounts.
For example, pension credit claimants over 75 qualify for a free TV licence worth up to £174.50 a year.
Claims for the benefit also provide eligibility to £25 a week cold weather payments and the £150 warm home discount.
Applications for pension credit can be made on the government website or by ringing the pension credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.
What if I live in Scotland?
In Scotland there's a "core group" that'll receive an automatic payment and a "broader group" which has to apply for the scheme with their energy provider.
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You'll need to check with your energy supplier directly to see the eligibility requirements and details on how to apply.
The scheme will have more applicants than places, so make sure you apply as soon as possible.
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