The Warm Home Discount Scheme at British Gas
What is the Warm Home Discount Scheme?
Unfortunately the Warm Home Discount Scheme is now closed to new applicants.
The Scheme for 2012/2013 will open in April 2012.
Existing customers can call us on 0800 072 8625 or 0800 294 8604 if you have a Pay as you go meter.
The Warm Home Discount Scheme is a 4 year programme run by the government and energy suppliers to provide rebates on the electricity bills of households that need it most in England, Scotland, and Wales.
The Warm Home Discount Scheme offers eligible customers a yearly one-off payment on their electricity bill. For Winter 2011/2012, this will be £120.
How does it work?
The one-off benefit of £120 (inclusive of VAT) will be provided to customers as a rebate payment credited to their electricity account between January and March 2012. There will be no alternate methods of payment available.
Our Pay As You Go customers will automatically receive the £120 credit on their electricity meter between January and March 2012, provided their meter is set up to receive such messages. If not, customers will receive a letter detailing how these payments will be made between January and March 2012.
Who is eligible?
Customers must have been on supply of their electricity with British Gas from the 10th October 2011, and continue to be in supply of their electricity with British Gas when the payments are made between January and March 2012.
Additional British Gas customers eligible for the Warm Home Discount are required to meet the following criteria and will need to apply to British Gas to receive the Warm Home Discount:
In receipt of the Savings or Guarantee & Savings element of the State Pension Credit
OR
In receipt of one of the following means tested eligible benefits*:
- Income related employment and support allowance
- Income based JobSeeker's Allowance
- Income Support
* Eligibility requires the customer household to include a child aged 5 years or under or for the account holder to be in receipt of Child Tax Credit, Disability Premium, or Pensioner Premium.
OR
Customer household has an annual income of less than £16,190^ and the account holder is living with a mental or physical disability or illness, or there is an element of vulnerability in the home, e.g.- Households with children aged 5 years or under
- Account holder (or partner) aged 60 or over
OR
Customer household has an annual income of less than £16,190^ and spends 10% or more of their household annual income on fuel for adequate heating (usually 21 degrees for the main living room, and 18 degrees for other occupied rooms).
^ Household income includes War Disablement Pension, Disablement Pension Allowance and Working Tax Credit. Household income excludes Council Tax Benefit, Housing Benefit, Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, and Child Tax Credit.
How do I apply?
Unfortunately the Warm Home Discount Scheme is now closed to new applicants.
The Scheme for 2012/2013 will open in April 2012.
Existing customers can call us on 0800 072 8625 or 0800 294 8604 if you have a Pay as you go meter.
Customers in receipt of just the guarantee element of Pension Credit will be automatically identified by the Department of Work and Pensions [DWP] and signed up to the scheme. These customers do not need to apply for the Warm Home Discount. The DWP will contact you directly towards the end of 2011.
