Winter 2026/27 at a glance
| Help | Who it is for | What you get | Do you need to apply? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warm Home Discount | Households on Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Housing Benefit or income-related ESA (England and Wales) | £150 off your electricity bill | Usually automatic |
| Winter Fuel Payment | People born on or before 27 June 1960 (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) | £100 to £300 | Usually automatic |
| Cold Weather Payment | People on certain benefits, when their area has a very cold week | £25 for each 7-day cold spell | Automatic |
| Crisis and Resilience Fund | People in England who cannot afford essentials, including energy | Depends on your council | Yes, to your council |
| Priority Services Register | Older people, disabled people, families with young children and others who need extra help | Extra support from your supplier | Yes, it is free |
None of these affects the others. You can get all of them if you qualify.
What has changed for winter 2026/27
- The energy price cap rose by 4% on 1 October 2026. A typical household paying by Direct Debit pays £1,723 a year at the new rates, £60 more than in the summer. See our guide to the energy price cap.
- There is no VAT on electricity from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. You do not need to do anything to get it.
- More people get the Warm Home Discount. The “high cost to heat” test has gone, so anyone on a qualifying benefit and named on the bill can get it.
- The Winter Fuel Payment is paid to all eligible pensioners again, but HMRC takes it back if your own income is over £35,000.
- The Household Support Fund has been replaced. In England, councils now give crisis help through the Crisis and Resilience Fund.
The Warm Home Discount: £150 off your electricity bill
The Warm Home Discount is a one-off £150 credit on your electricity bill. It is not paid as cash.
In England and Wales you qualify if, on 23 August 2026, you or your partner got Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Housing Benefit or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, and your name was on the electricity bill.
Most people get it automatically between October and March. Read the full Warm Home Discount guide.
The Winter Fuel Payment: £100 to £300
If you were born on or before 27 June 1960, you can usually get between £100 and £300 towards heating costs. The amount depends on your age and who you live with during the qualifying week, 21 to 27 September 2026.
Most people get a letter in October or November and the money in November or December. See who gets what.
Cold Weather Payments: £25 for each freezing week
If you get certain benefits, you can receive £25 each time the average temperature where you live is recorded or forecast at zero degrees or below for 7 days in a row. The scheme runs from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027.
The payment is automatic. Read who qualifies for Cold Weather Payments.
Help from your council
In England, councils help people who cannot afford essentials through the Crisis and Resilience Fund, which replaced the Household Support Fund. It can help with energy and water bills, food and essential items.
- You do not have to be on benefits to ask.
- Each council sets its own rules, so check your council’s website.
- In Scotland, ask about the Scottish Welfare Fund. In Wales, ask about the Discretionary Assistance Fund.
If you are struggling to pay
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Step 1: Call your supplier
Tell them early. They must offer a payment plan you can afford, and many have hardship funds or grants.
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Step 2: Check your benefits
Use a free benefits calculator. Pension Credit in particular unlocks the Warm Home Discount and Cold Weather Payments.
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Step 3: Join the Priority Services Register
It is free, through your supplier and your network operator, and gives extra help such as advance notice of power cuts.
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Step 4: Ask your council
In England, apply to the Crisis and Resilience Fund if you cannot afford energy, food or other essentials.
Scams increase every winter
Fake texts and calls about the Warm Home Discount, Winter Fuel Payment and “energy rebates” appear every winter. None of these schemes asks for your bank details by text or email. Read how to spot an energy grant scam.
Cut your bills for good
Winter payments help this year. Improving the home itself lowers bills every year after.
- A new boiler or central heating: households on benefits may get one through ECO4, which ends on 31 December 2026.
- A heat pump: the Boiler Upgrade Scheme takes money off the cost in England and Wales, with no income test.
- Insulation, heating and solar for lower-income homes in England: the Warm Homes: Local Grant, through your council.
See if a grant could lower your bills
Pick the grant you want to check. Three quick checks, then our team calls you back. It is free, with no obligation.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
| Nation | What is different |
|---|---|
| Scotland | No Winter Fuel Payment or Cold Weather Payment. Social Security Scotland pays the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment and the Winter Heating Payment instead. Some households apply to their supplier for the Warm Home Discount. |
| Wales | The Warm Home Discount, Winter Fuel Payment and Cold Weather Payments work as in England. Crisis help comes from the Discretionary Assistance Fund. |
| Northern Ireland | No Warm Home Discount. The Winter Fuel Payment and Cold Weather Payments are paid through nidirect. |
For home upgrade grants in each nation, see our guides to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Warm Home Support is independent
We are not GOV.UK, Ofgem, your council or your energy supplier, and we cannot claim these winter payments for you. They are paid by the government and your supplier.
