OCTOPUS ENERGY - WARM HOME DISCOUNT SCHEME
Octopus Energy - Warm Home Discount Scheme
Can I Get The Warm Home Discount In England And Wales?
If you are of pensionable age and receiving the Guaranteed Credit element of Pension Credit you automatically qualify as part of Core Group 1 if you were with an energy supplier who participates in the WHD scheme as of 23rd August 2026. Alternatively you might also be eligible under Core Group 2 if you’re on a low income or get certain means-tested benefits and have high energy costs. The Core Group 2 qualifying date is also 23rd August 2026.
What Do I Need To Do If I Receive The Guaranteed Credit Element Of Pension Credit?
If you receive the Guaranteed Credit element of Pension Credit, you don't need to do anything. The Department for Work and Pensions will send you a letter between October and December 2026 to let you know you'll be receiving the credit and £150 will automatically be added to your energy account.
What If I'm With Octopus And Receive The Required Qualifying Benefits?
If you qualify under the Core Group 2 criteria (see the Octopus Warm Home Discount Scheme help article) you no longer need to complete an application form via your energy supplier. Eligible customers will be identified based on Low Income Criteria and High Energy Costs Criteria. A qualifying date of 23rd August 2026 has been set for meeting these criteria. If you subsequently have a benefits claim backdated to the qualifying date or earlier, you may also become eligible for the Warm Home Discount. Anyone who fulfils the criteria on the qualifying date should be contacted by the DWP between October and December 2026 to confirm that you're eligible for an automatic rebate or advise you to call the WHD helpline (0800 030 9322) to check your eligibility for the scheme. The WHD helpline opens in mid October 2026.
Am I Eligible If I'm An Octopus Customer On A Pay-As-You-Go Or Prepayment Tariff?
Yes, you can still be eligible for the Warm Home Discount. If you have a prepayment meter/(s) and no standard/credit meters, instead of crediting your account, if you're on Smart Pay As You Go the £150 rebate may be applied as a credit directly to your meter, or through energy vouchers you can use to top up your balance if you have a traditional prepay meter. If you have one credit meter and one prepayment meter, you'll receive credit on your account.
Is The Eligibility Criteria Different in Scotland?
In Scotland, Core Group criteria remains the same as Core Group 1 criteria in England and Wales, so if you receive the Guaranteed Credit element of Pension Credit, you don't need to do anything. Unlike England and Wales however, customers in Scotland who are on low income and on certain benefits previously still needed to apply for the Broader Group, because Scotland has no equivalent of the Valuations Office Agency (VOA), as referenced in the Core Group 2 criteria for England and Wales. From 2026 however, customers in Scotland do not need to apply if they are in receipt of certain means-tested benefits. See the Octopus WHD help article for full details. If that's not the case, you may still be eligible to apply under the Broader Group Scheme and can make an application via your online account.
When Would My Warm Home Discount Get Paid?
If you think you're going to get the Warm Home Discount automatically you should hear from the Department of Work and Pensions between October and December 2026. If you haven't received a letter by mid January 2027, but you think you're eligible for a rebate under Core Group 1 or Core Group 2, contact the WHD helpline on 0800 030 9322. 26th February 2027 is the deadline to contact the Warm Home Discount helpline if you've been advised to get in touch in your letter. When Octopus receive confirmation from the DWP they will then credit £150 to your energy account within a few weeks. The DWP will send notifications right up until March and energy suppliers have until 31st March 2027 to apply the credit.
If I Switch To Another Supplier Or Move House, Will I Still Receive The Warm Home Discount?
Not all energy suppliers participate in the Warm Home Discount scheme, but if you are eligible as part of any Core Group, your new supplier will pay it instead, unless you were still on supply with Octopus on 23rd August 2026. You can check which suppliers offer the Warm Home Discount here.
Do I Need To Re-Apply For The Warm Home Discount Every Year?
If you’re a Core Group 1 or Core Group 2 customer in England and Wales or a Core Group customer in Scotland, you’ll receive a letter from the DWP every year to confirm if you’re still eligible or not. If you're in the Broader Group and based in Scotland, you may need to re-apply depending on how you qualify.
Is The Warm Home Discount Linked To The Cold Weather Payment, Winter Heating Payment Or Winter Fuel Payment?
No, the Warm Home Discount is separate. You can get the Cold Weather Payment (in England and Wales) if you're receiving certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest. It's £25 for each 7 day period of very cold weather between 1st November and 31st March. If you live in Scotland and receive low income benefits you can get the £62 Winter Heating Payment. The criteria is the same but doesn't depend on how cold the temperature gets.
Residents of England and Wales born on or before 27th June 1960 can also receive a Winter Fuel Payment of between £100 and £300 to help pay their heating bill. If eligible, the Winter Fuel Payment is paid automatically. In Scotland, the Winter Fuel Payment has been replaced by the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment and is administered by Social Security Scotland and also paid automatically. Eligible people will receive a payment of between £105.55 and £316.70. Letters confirming the payment are sent out in November.
The Scottish Government also offers the Child Winter Heating Payment which is a payment to help disabled children and young people and their families with increased heating costs over winter. It does not depend on how cold the weather is. The amount payable is £265.50 for winter 2026-2027.
You'll find more information on the UK government website: Cold Weather Payment and Winter Fuel Payment and the Scottish Government website: Winter Heating Payment , Child Winter Heating Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.
I'm Not An Octopus Customer Yet So How Do I Switch And Gain £75?
To apply for the Warm Home Discount via Octopus Energy you have to first be a customer of theirs. If you use my
Octopus referral link to sign up, you'll get £50 free credit from Octopus, plus an extra get £25 from me via your choice of PayPal, bank transfer or Amazon gift card. Just click on my referral link below to get a quote with my referral. If you decide to proceed with the switch I'll be emailed confirmation of your referral and I'll be on the lookout for your
contact form
to let me know you've used my link and how you'd like your extra £25 paid!
