Apply for Scottish Power Warm Home Discount 2022/23

The Scottish Power Warm Home Discount is a £140 government rebate to help low-income households and vulnerable customers with their winter electricity bills. Keep reading to find out the Scottish Power Warm Home Discount criteria, when you can apply, and when the Scottish Power Warm Home Discount is paid.

When can I apply for Scottish Power Warm Home Discount The Scottish Power Warm Home Discount scheme is closed for new applications for 2021/2022.

The scheme will open again at the end of summer 2022 and we advise bookmarking this page and checking back nearer the time for the latest updates on the Scottish Power Warm Home Discount criteria and the application process.

Scottish Power and the Warm Home Discount

Scottish Power’s Warm Home Discount is a government-backed programme to help households which have difficulties paying their energy bills over the winter period when people normally use a lot more energy. The scheme, which has been running since 2011, aims to reduce fuel poverty in the UK.

Previously the Warm Home Discount was a £120 heating allowance, however the amount offered through the scheme is currently £140.

Potential changes for the 2022/2023 Warm Home Discount The government has announced they are considering increasing the Warm Home Discount from £140 to £150 as a result of the energy crisis that has resulted in many suppliers going bust during winter 2022/23.

Whist the increase is yet to be finalised, this page will be updated with the latest announcements that affect the Scottish Power Warm Home Discount 2022/2023.

Scottish Power Warm Home Discount Eligibility

As the scheme is now closed until, the warm home discount eligibility criteria for 2022/2023 is subject to change. However, changes are often minor and usually widen the net meaning more people meet the required criteria for warm home discount eligibility.

Under the Scottish Power Warm Home Discount 2021/2022 criteria, Scottish Power domestic customers would have been required to fall into one of two categories to be entitled to the claim the Warm Home Discount: the "Core Group" and the "Broader Group".

Core Group Eligibility

Customers are automatically entitled to the Scottish Power Warm Home Discount scheme Core Group rebate if:

• You or your partner are a Scottish Power domestic customer
• Scottish Power was your energy supplier on 4 July 2021
• You get the guarantee credit element of pension credit (if you also get savings credit you are still eligible)

If you meet the above criteria then you didn't need to do anything to apply for the Warm Home Discount, Scottish Power will get in touch if they need any further information from you. You will also receive a letter confirming your eligibility from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) before the end of the year which will tell you what will happen next.

I didn't receive the Scottish Power Warm Home Discount Core Group letter Customers who hadn't received the letter to confirm eligibility by December 2021, but believe they were eligible for the core group rebate, could contact the Warm Home Discount helpline on 0800 7310 214. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm.
This helpline is ONLY for customers who receive the Pension Credit Guarantee Credit and is not the Scottish Power Warm Home Discount telephone number. This is the DWP Warm Home Discount team who will be able to help you. For applications, you should contact Scottish Power directly or apply online.

Broader Group Eligibility

You could apply for the Scottish Power Warm Home Discount as part of the Broader Group if:

• Scottish Power was your supplier on 4 July 2021
• The account is in your name or your partner’s name

And you or another member of your household are in receipt of one of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Income-Based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income Related Employment Support Allowance
• Universal Credit and have earned under the currently stipulated amount least one of the twelve preceding assessment periods

Or if your circumstances matched the following you may also have qualified for the Scottish Power Warm Home Discount:

The gross income for your household totals less than the currently stipulated amount and meet at least ONE of the criteria below:

• A child living with you permanently is under five years old or 18 or under and in full-time education and entitled to receive free school meals
• Receives a child tax credit or working tax credit with a disability, severe disability, disabled child, severely disabled child or family element or the universal credit equivalent
• Receives an income-related benefit with a disabled child, disability, severe disability or enhanced disability premium or the universal credit equivalent
• Receives a pensioner, higher pensioner or enhanced pensioner premium
• Receives a limited capability for work and work-related activity according to regulations 39 and 40 of the universal credit regulations 2013(a)
• Receives a disabled child element
• Receives Disability Living Allowance (DLA), personal independence payment (pip); incapacity benefit or attendance allowance
• Is aged 65 or older
• Your total annual energy bill is more than 10% of your household’s annual income

The Warm Home Discount is only applied to your electricity bill so you must have a Scottish Power domestic electricity account to get the Broader Group rebate. This means you can't get a Broader Group Discount payment if you are only supplied with gas by Scottish Power.

Scottish Power Warm Home Discount application 2022/23

The Scottish Power Warm Home Discount is currently closed.

The Scottish Power Warm Home Discount application process varied depending on if you qualify for the Core Group or Broader Group. Broader Group members needed to contact Scottish Power to apply for the Warm Home Discount.

Remember, Scottish Power grants the Warm Home Discount on a first-come, first-served basis so try to apply as soon as possible each year and don't leave it to the last minute.

Core Group

If you qualify for the Warm Home Discount through the Core Group, you should receive a letter from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) by December informing you whether you will receive the rebate automatically or have to apply for it instead.

Your letter will contain a reference number beginning with an 'M' or 'U'.

If your reference number starts with 'M':

If Scottish Power was your supplier on 4 July 2021, it will automatically apply your discount by the end of March 2022. If Scottish Power was not your supplier on that date, your previous supplier will send your details through to Scottish Power so that it can pass the discount amount on to you. Your rebate will automatically be added to your electricity bill or you will receive your voucher through the post in due course.

If your reference number starts with 'U':

If this is the case, there may be a problem. This means that the DWP isn’t aware which energy supplier your account is with.

In this situation you will need to give the Warm Home Discount team a call on 0800 7310 214 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm). To verify your supplier, you will need to provide the DWP with your electricity account number and your Meter Point Administration Number (MPAN). Both of these numbers should be on your energy bill, but if you have any problems check out our guide on how to find your MPAN.

Please note, this is not the Scottish Power Warm Home Discount telephone number. It is the DWP Warm Home Discount team and they will be able to help you. But for applications, you should contact Scottish Power directly or apply online.

To verify your eligibility for the scheme, Scottish Power might share your information with the Department of Work and Pensions or ask you to provide evidence of the benefit you receive before they will grant you the discount.

How and when will I receive the Scottish Power Warm Home Discount?

It doesn’t matter how you pay for your energy, whether through direct debit, prepayment or other methods, all eligible Scottish Power customers can apply for the Warm Home Discount.

However, your payment method does affect how you will receive the discount:

• Prepayment customers: you’ll get a voucher. Take it to the shop when you top up to get your rebate.
• Direct debit customers: the discount will be directly applied to your account (you'll see it listed under Other Charges on your Scottish Power bill.

The Scottish Power Warm Home Discount payment date should be by the end of March 2022. If Scottish Power hasn't applied the credit to your account, or sent you a voucher if you're a prepayment customer, by 31 March 2022, we recommend getting in touch with Scottish Power to find out when you will get your Warm Home Discount payment.

What happens if I switch energy suppliers?

If you qualify for the Core Group Warm Home Discount and move to a new supplier after July 2021, Scottish Power will apply your rebate to your final account balance. If you received a letter from the DWP but your payment hasn’t arrived by April you should get in touch with Scottish Power as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, If you are in the Broader Group and change your energy supplier after you apply for the Warm Home Discount but before you receive the rebate, you may not be considered eligible for a rebate from Scottish Power any longer and you’ll need to apply to your new energy supplier for the Warm Home Discount.

With more suppliers signing up to the scheme each year, finding another supplier that offers the Warm Home Discount isn’t difficult. In most cases, you may be able to save more than £140 simply by switching energy provider and getting yourself on a cheaper tariff.

What happens if I don't qualify for the Scottish Power Warm Home Discount?

Customers who don't meet the Scottish Power Warm Home Discount criteria can switch to a different supplier. As each supplier sets out its own eligibility criteria, you might find that you meet the criteria of another supplier. As an added bonus, by comparing your energy tariff, you could even walk away with a better deal.

You can also look at other schemes and free grants for low income families and vulnerable customers that are can save you money on your gas and electricity bills. And if you're having difficulties paying your bills, the Scottish Power Hardship Fund might be able to help.