Over the last few weeks, I’ve heard from constituents who are having problems having the Warm Home Discount applied to their utilities account, even though they meet the criteria to receive the support.

I wrote to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to ask “on what date in 2021 her Department notified utility suppliers of those (a) in receipt of the Guarantee Element of Pension Credit and (b) in the core group for the Warm Home Discount.”

Here’s the reply that was sent to me: 

The warm home discount scheme is the responsibility of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
However, the Department for Work and Pensions operates a data match with relevant energy suppliers to ensure customers in receipt of Pension Credit Guarantee Credit (known as the core group) receive an automatic rebate on their energy bill where possible.
The qualifying date to determine warm home discount eligibility for 2021/22 was the 4 July 2021. The department completed this year’s exercise by 9 October 2021.
The department also undertakes a further exercise in mid-November, this is to capture any Pension Credit Guarantee Credit claims that may have been backdated.

If you’re having problems with the Warm Home Discount, please get in touch.

My team and I are here to help, so please do get in touch – we know the challenges that are being faced right now due to the rising cost of living and will do whatever we can to help.