£150 vs £100 energy payment: which is which?
| Scheme | Amount | Who it is for | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Household Energy Payment | £100 | Households in England in Council Tax bands A–D | From January 2027; Direct Debit payers paid automatically |
| Warm Home Discount | £150 | Mainly people on certain means-tested benefits, named on the electricity bill | Running for winter 2026/27 |
| Council Tax energy rebate | £150 | Households in bands A–D in 2022 | Closed |
The £150 Warm Home Discount for 2026/27
The Warm Home Discount is a one-off £150 discount off your electricity bill, applied by your energy supplier rather than paid into your bank. On a prepayment meter, your supplier tells you how you receive it, for example a top-up voucher.
For winter 2026 to 2027 in England and Wales, the qualifying date is 23 August 2026. The core group includes people receiving Pension Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Housing Benefit or Universal Credit who (or whose partner) are named on the electricity bill with a participating supplier. Most eligible households get it automatically, without applying. Check the official Warm Home Discount guidance.
The 2022 £150 Council Tax rebate has closed
In 2022, councils paid a £150 Council Tax energy rebate to most households in bands A–D. That scheme has ended; there is no £150 Council Tax rebate to claim for 2026. Searches for a “£150 energy payment 2026” usually mean the Warm Home Discount or the new £100 payment.
The way the 2022 rebate was paid is the nearest guide to how the £100 might work, but it is only a precedent. Read when the £100 energy payment is due.
Can I get the £150 Warm Home Discount and the £100 payment?
They are separate schemes with separate rules. Nothing published so far says one rules out the other: the £100 depends on your Council Tax band and liability, the £150 on benefits and your electricity account. Full £100 criteria are still to be published, so no one can promise you both yet.
Start with your band: find your Council Tax band, then use the £100 energy payment checker. Never pay a fee or share bank details to “claim” either payment.
£150 energy payment questions
Is there a £150 energy payment in 2026?
The £150 that runs in 2026/27 is the Warm Home Discount, a discount on your electricity bill for eligible households. The 2022 £150 Council Tax rebate has closed. The new Budget support is £100, for England bands A–D.
When will I get the £150 Warm Home Discount?
Your energy supplier applies it after the 23 August 2026 qualifying date, usually over the winter. Most eligible households do not need to apply; some are sent a letter asking them to call the helpline.
Do I need to apply for the £150 Warm Home Discount?
Most eligible households receive it automatically. If eligibility is unclear, the benefit recipient is sent a letter asking them to contact the Warm Home Discount helpline.