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Glasgow Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
All the DWP benefits eligible for £150 Warm Home Discount
The DWP is reminding those on eligible means-tested benefits to check they are named on their electricity bill to get £150 off this winter. An extra 2.7 million households will qualify this winter - but their name must be on the bill to qualify automatically. These are the main means-tested DWP benefits: Housing Benefit Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) Income Support Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit) Universal Credit In England and Wales, this means households in receipt of Housing Benefit, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit and Universal Credit will now be eligible. If you live in Scotland, are receiving Pension Credit Guarantee Credit and are named on your electricity bill (or your partner or legal representative is), you will likely receive the Warm Home Discount automatically. Scottish households in receipt of other means-tested benefits will need to apply for the discount via their energy supplier directly from October. Application windows will vary depending on the supplier. There's more information available on This takes the number of households set to benefit from the Warm Home Discount to over six million – an increase of 2.7 million households, including 900,000 more families with children. Someone might not be named on their electricity bill if they have recently moved house and changed supplier. Having the eligible person named on the electricity bill will help make sure households receive the £150 discount automatically. Last winter, 96% of eligible households received their discount automatically through this route, making it the easiest and quickest way for the overwhelming majority of households. Minister for Energy Consumers Miatta Fahnbulleh says: "We took decisive action earlier this year to expand the Warm Home Discount, giving more working families certainty and peace of mind before winter. hr /> Recommended reading: "I now want to make sure as many eligible households as possible get £150 off their energy bill, putting more money in their pockets as part of our Plan for Change. "If you know someone who might be eligible – please start spreading the word to family and friends, encouraging them to check they are named on their energy bill." Eligible customers on pre-payment meters who use a key or card to top up will also need to ensure that their household's account is registered in their name.
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Government issues reminder that millions could save £150 off energy bills
It takes the number of households set to benefit from the Warm Home Discount to over six million – an increase of 2.7 million households Millions are set to save £150 on their electricity bills this winter, as the government urges eligible households to check they are named on their bill to get the discount automatically. Every household where the billpayer receives an eligible means-tested benefit is in line for the discount, after ministers removed restrictions that previously excluded many who needed help with bills. In England and Wales, this means households in receipt of Housing Benefit, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit and Universal Credit will now be eligible. This takes the number of households set to benefit from the Warm Home Discount to over six million – an increase of 2.7 million households, including 900,000 more families with children. The government is now issuing a reminder to eligible households to check they are named on their electricity bill, with suppliers set to rely on customers' records as of Sunday 24 August. It comes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves dismisses Donald Trump's 'con job' wind turbine claim. Having the eligible person named on the electricity bill will help make sure households receive the £150 discount automatically. Last winter, 96% of eligible households received their discount automatically through this route, making it the easiest and quickest way for the overwhelming majority of households. Minister for Energy Consumers Miatta Fahnbulleh said: 'We took decisive action earlier this year to expand the Warm Home Discount, giving more working families certainty and peace of mind before winter. I now want to make sure as many eligible households as possible get £150 off their energy bill, putting more money in their pockets as part of our Plan for Change. If you know someone who might be eligible – please start spreading the word to family and friends, encouraging them to check they are named on their energy bill.' Eligible customers on pre-payment meters who use a key or card to top up will also need to ensure that their household's account is registered in their name. It follows the government last week announcing those living near new pylons across the UK are set to receive up to £250 a year off their bills over 10 years, in the form of a £125 discount every 6 months.
Daily Mirror
24-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Exact date households can qualify for £150 energy help this winter
The Warm Home Discount is worth £150 and is paid directly to your energy supplier - so you get it as a discount straight off your energy bill, or as credit The exact date you need to be claiming benefits by to get the Warm Home Discount later this year has been revealed. The Warm Home Discount is worth £150 and is paid directly to your energy supplier - so you get it as a discount straight off your energy bill, or as credit if you're a prepayment customer. It is normally paid in October or November. In order to receive the Warm Home Discount, you must be claiming one of the following benefits on August 24: Guaranteed credit element of Pension Credit Income Support Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance Income-related Employment and Support Allowance Housing Benefit Universal Credit "Savings Credit" part of Pension Credit The Warm Home Discount is paid automatically in England and Wales. If you live in Scotland, the payment is also automatic if you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit. For the other benefits listed above, you'll need to apply through your energy supplier. There is no equivalent scheme in Northern Ireland. It comes after the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), which is charge of funding the Warm Home Discount, confirmed it will remove the high-cost-to-heat threshold for the Warm Home Discount in England and Wales. This is a score that determined whether a property is considered to have high energy costs, as this used to be a qualifying criteria for getting the Warm Home Discount in England and Wales. DESNZ estimates the total number of households that will receive the discount next winter could rise by 2.7 million, to an estimated 6.1 million. 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
23-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Universal Credit cash rule change means benefit payments won't be stopped
Under the current rules, benefit claimants who have received compensation after a criminal conviction may find themselves ineligible for some means-tested benefits Victims of miscarriages of justice will no longer have their compensation taken into account when claiming benefits such as Universal Credit. Under the current rules, benefit claimants who have received compensation after a criminal conviction may find themselves ineligible for some means-tested benefits, which are issued to people depending on their income and how much money they have in savings. For example, you are not eligible for Universal Credit if you have more than £16,000 in savings or investments. But moving forward, a rule that meant compensation payments were included as part of your capital has now been scrapped. This applies to six means-tested benefits including: Universal Credit, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit and Pension Credit. It comes after the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) increased the maximum amount miscarriage of justice victims can receive through the Miscarriage of Justice Compensation Scheme from £1million to £1.3million. Sir Stephen Timms MP, minister for social security and disability, said: "Rebuilding trust in our systems begins by restoring trust with those the system has failed. "We can't return the years lost by miscarriage of justice victims — but we can, and must, ensure they have every opportunity to restart their lives so they can make the most of the years ahead." Alex Davies-Jones, minister for victims and violence against women and girls, added: "Miscarriages of justice steal irreplaceable time and devastate lives. "Better benefit support combined with the uplift of the compensation cap will make a real difference, providing not just financial redress but rightfully deserved recognition to individuals affected." If you claim Universal Credit and you have over £6,000 in money, savings and investments, your benefit is normally be reduced by £4.35 for every £250 you have between £6,000 and £16,000. If the amount you have saved doesn't add up exactly to £250, but is over the threshold, another £4.35 is deducted from your Universal Credit. For example, if you have £6,300 in savings, the first £6,000 would not be subject to any deductions, but the other £300 would see your payments deducted by £8.70. This would be £4.35 deduced for the first £250, then another £4.35 for the remaining £50 that makes up the £300. These figures apply if you're a single claimant, or claiming as part of a couple. You are normally not eligible for Universal Credit if you have more than £16,000 in savings. If you claim Tax Credits and you've been asked to move to Universal Credit, you may still be able to get Universal Credit for up to a year if you have more than £16,000.
North Wales Live
22-07-2025
- Business
- North Wales Live
People who get four different DWP benefits urged not to ignore letter
While the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Bill is grabbing attention in Parliament, the transition to Universal Credit is quietly taking place. This managed migration began in May 2022 with the aim of moving all recipients of six legacy benefits onto the Universal Credit system. The DWP intends to send out migration notices to all remaining claimants by the end of this year, with a plan to close all legacy benefits by March 2026. Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit have already been phased out due to the migration. However, claimants of four other benefits are still being transferred and should anticipate a letter from the DWP if they haven't received one yet. The following benefits are set to cease soon as part of the Universal Credit migration: Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Income Support Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) Housing Benefit People claiming these benefits who are affected by the migration will be sent a migration notice letter from the DWP. It's vital that people don't disregard this letter, as the migration won't be automatic and your benefits will terminate even if you decide not to claim Universal Credit, reports the Mirror. The letter you'll receive will include a personal deadline date, which is the final day you can apply for Universal Credit and still be eligible for transitional protection. You're free to apply for the benefit after this date or even before receiving a migration notice, but you'll miss out on this safeguard. The DWP clarifies: "As you've received a Migration Notice letter some of the normal eligibility rules for claiming are different. This is part of 'transitional protection'." This transitional protection is designed to make sure that individuals receive the same amount on Universal Credit as they did from their previous benefits, regardless of whether they fit the new criteria, to prevent anyone from being worse off due to the change. Take, for instance, if you were getting £140.55 weekly on ESA but under Universal Credit's standard rules, you're only entitled to £100, you'd receive an extra £40.55 per week as transitional protection. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Should you find yourself unable to apply before your transitional protection deadline, it's crucial to ring the Universal Credit Migration Notice Helpline at 0800 169 0328. If you have a valid reason and contact them before your deadline, you might be granted an extension. To claim Universal Credit, you can go online and set up a Universal Credit account. Remember, you must finish your application within 28 days of creating the account. Alternatively, you can apply over the phone using the Universal Credit Migration Notice Helpline. The shift to Universal Credit is still ongoing, with a significant overhaul planned for next year. The proposed alterations in the forthcoming Bill will slash and freeze the health component rate for new claimants from April 2026. Those already receiving the benefit before the change comes into effect will be shielded from the reduction. Considering the government's plan to send out all migration notices by December 2025 and wrap up all legacy benefits by March 2026, those transitioning to Universal Credit should also be safeguarded by this concession.
