British Gas £150 payment: Who is eligible and how do you claim the Warm Home Discount?
THOUSANDS of British Gas customers are eligible for a £150 energy bill discount this winter.
The discount comes through the government’s Warm Home Discount scheme.
Customers should keep an eye out for emails and letters in the post confirming their eligibility in the coming weeks.
Payments will be made between October and March 2024.
Here’s everything you need to know about the scheme.
What is the British Gas £150 payment?
The British Gas Warm Home Discount is available to those on the lowest incomes to help with their energy costs.
Households in England and Wales don’t need to apply to get the cash and they’ll automatically qualify if they are receiving certain benefits.
In Scotland, some customers will need to apply for cash.
If eligible you’ll receive an automatic £150 discount off your energy bills
Who is eligible for the British Gas payment?
To qualify for the Warm Home Discount, you need to claim either the guaranteed credit element of Pension Credit or a different qualifying benefit from the list below:
- Income support
- Income based jobseeker’s allowance
- Income related employment and support allowance
- Housing benefit
- Universal Credit
- Child tax credit
- Working tax credits
- Pension Credit savings credit
If you weren’t claiming any of the above benefits on August 13, 2023, you won’t be eligible for the payment.
The Government will then make an assessment of your energy costs based on the property you live in.
You might not be considered eligible for the Warm Home Discount if you live in a more energy-efficient property, even if you receive a qualifying benefit.
But this rule doesn’t apply to recipients of the Guarantee Credit portion of Pension Credit.
How do I claim the discount?
People living in England and Wales don’t need to apply for the Warm Home Discount as of this year.
You get the payment automatically if your electricity supplier is part of the scheme and you qualify.
Households will receive a letter in the post over the coming weeks confirming their eligibility.
Though energy regulator Ofgem says some people may be asked to contact a Government helpline to confirm their eligibility.
Visit the government website for more information.
The Scottish Government has not changed their Warm Home Discount scheme to bring it in line with England and Wales’ application-free scheme.
Households in Scotland will have to follow the rules set out in the legacy scheme.
This means there is still a “core group” that’ll receive an automatic payment and a “broader group” who’ll have to apply for the scheme with their energy provider.
If you pay by direct debit or on receipt of your bill the Warm Home Discount will be added to your electricity account as a credit.
If you have a traditional prepayment meter, British Gas will send you a voucher you can use to top up your meter at a Post Office.
If you’ve got a smart prepayment meter, British Gas will send the discount directly to your meter as a credit.
It will then send you an email to let you know it’s on there.
If it can’t get the amount applied directly to your meter as quickly as it would like, British Gas says that it will send you a voucher to top up from a Post Office.
That way you’ll still get your discount as soon as possible.