The Warm Home Discount Scheme provides £135 rebate on electricity bills in winter 2013/14.

Pension Credit customers are automatically considered for the Warm Home Discount of £135.

You may qualify for this energy rebate if all the following apply:

• you got only the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit on the qualifying date (11 September 2011)
• your energy provider is participating in this scheme (see 'Energy suppliers participating in this scheme' below)
• your name, or your partner's name is on the electricity bil

You will not qualify automatically if you get the Savings Credit element of Pension Credit.

Can other people get a Warm Home Discount?

• Energy suppliers may also give a £135 rebate to some other customers in vulnerable groups.  Each supplier has different eligibility criteria they will use to decide who may get the rebate.  Please contact your supplier for more details.

What you need to do

If you qualify you don't need to take any action now.

When you'll get your Warm Home Discount

The first energy rebates will be made in winter 2011/12.  If you qualify you'll get a letter this winter to confirm this.

If you qualify, but an automatic rebate can't be made, you'll receive a letter asking you to provide further information.  This information will be available on your electricity bill.

How the Warm Home Discount Scheme works

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and participating electricity suppliers will share some limited information about their customers.  This allows participating electricity suppliers to give the energy rebate automatically to customers who qualify.

The Warm Home Discount Scheme will run for four years from winter 2011/12.

Rebates will be paid and funded by participating electricity suppliers.

Energy suppliers participating in the scheme

The electricity suppliers involved in this scheme are: Atlantic, British Gas, EDF Energy, E.ON, Equipower, Equigas, Manweb, M&S Energy, npower, Sainsbury's Energy, Scottish Gas, Scottish Hydro, ScottishPower, Southern Electric, SSE, Swalec and Utility Warehouse.

The WHD replaces social tariffs and voluntary arrangements previously offered by energy suppliers. The scheme will target two groups of people:

1. The Core Group –older, poorer pensioner households – will automatically receive a discount on their energy bill of between £120 and £140 by 31^st March 2012. The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) will be writing to all Core group recipients to confirm they will receive the rebate.
2. The Broader Group -Each energy supplier has discretion over which households fall under its Broader group criteria and its own set of qualifying conditions. Consumers should contact their supplier directly if they feel they may qualify for assistance. You will need to provide proof of your entitlement to the qualifying benefits. Energy suppliers have more details about this process.

Contact your energy supplier if you feel they may qualify for WHD assistance under the Broader Group. Alternatively Consumer Direct (08454 04 05 06) is the Government-funded consumer advice service. It offers information and advice on problems with goods and services, energy and post.