DWP says Brits may be eligible for £150 payment this winter | Personal Finance | Finance
The Warm Home Discount that offers Brits a one-off £150 payment is set to reopen this year. The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed that the scheme will reopen in October this year and will be unaffected by the change in Prime Minister from Sir Keir Starmer to Andy Burnham.
The discount is applied directly to eligible residents’ electricity bills rather than being credited to a bank account. As reported by the Express, Mr Burnham is understood to have placed the cost of living at the heart of his policy planning ahead of his confirmation as Prime Minister.
There are several ways to qualify for the scheme.
People living in England and Wales are eligible if they receive the guarantee credit element of Pension Credit from the DWP, or are on a low income and claim housing benefit, income-related employment and support allowance, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, income support, the savings credit part of Pension Credit, or Universal Credit.
The DWP says: “If you do not get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, you may still be eligible for the Warm Home Discount.”
Reasons that could also deem someone eligible include if their energy supplier is part of the scheme, they or their partner gets certain means-tested benefits during a specified period.
There are reports that Mr Burnham will relax the Government’s restrictions on new oil and gas drilling upon becoming PM.
This possibility has been heavily criticised by the Green Party.
Adrian Ramsey, Green Party MP, said: “With heatwaves causing deaths, wildfires and extreme weather across the country, approving new oil and gas drilling is exactly the wrong response and will do nothing to bring down energy bills.
“The science is clear: if we are serious about limiting climate breakdown, we cannot keep opening up new fossil fuel projects. Greens support a just transition that protects workers and communities while accelerating investment in renewable energy, not doubling down on the fuels driving the crisis.”
