Winter help for households

As the cold weather continues, many people are getting in touch with our services as they are worried about rising costs of energy. 

Luckily, there are lots of ways you can get help.  But, be careful.  Scammers also try to trick people during this time.

Here’s an update from our energy advice service team, including a simple guide to the warm home discount, winter fuel payment, and how to stay safe from scams…. 

Warm home discount: £150 payment towards your energy costs:  

The warm home discount is a one-time payment toward your energy costs and will be paid to you between October and March. How you receive this benefit will depend on how you pay for your energy.

Who can get it?

You can receive this if you get pension credit (guarantee credit), or certain benefits such as universal credit, employment and support allowance (ESA), jobseeker’s allowance (JSA), income support, or housing benefit.

How to get it: 

For most people the warm home discount will be paid automatically between October and March.

In some cases, the warm home discount provider may not have all the required information to make the payment and will send you a letter informing you of your next steps.

If you think you should get it but haven’t heard anything by January 2026, contact your energy supplier or call the warm home discount helpline on 0800 030 9322.

Prepayment:

People who top their meter up with a key/card or through an app on their phone will receive this benefit directly as credit on their meter or in the form of a voucher in the post.  Contact your energy supplier if you have any concerns about how this will be paid.

Direct debit:

Those who have a direct debit set up with their supplier will receive the bill as credit on their account.  This credit will remain on your account being used up if your winter bills are more than your direct debit. Some suppliers may also allow you to reduce your direct debit in line with the warm home discount.

Pay on receipt of bill:

If you pay your bill at a post office or online when you get it, then the warm home discount will be applied as a reduction on your bill.  If your bills are low this can result in a discount that applies over multiple months.

Winter fuel payment 

This is a yearly payment between £100-£300 to help older people pay for heating. There have been some changes to this benefit since last year so people who did not get it last year may be eligible for it this time around.

Who can get it? 

You must be born on or before 21 September 1959.

You must have lived in the UK during the period from 15 to 21 September 2025.

You must receive state pension, or receive a means tested benefit.

How to apply: 

Automatic payment: If you have received the winter fuel allowance before you do not need apply and the payment will be made automatically into your bank account by January.

Alternative payment: If this is your first time claiming you may need to provide some details to receive the benefit. Keep an eye out for a claim letter talking you through your next steps.

If you’ve never had state pension before, you’ll need to apply by 31 March 2026 via the government winter fuel payment website page.

Scam warning: Don’t get tricked 

Scammers are sending fake texts and emails pretending to be from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

What scams look like: 

There are lots of types of scams so please take care to check anything you receive carefully.

Scam messages can include those saying you can get a ‘Winter heating allowance’ or ‘energy grant’.

Some include links to fake websites asking for your bank details or messages with urgent deadlines to apply.

Have a look at an example of an actual scam text below.

Thanks to the vigilance of a Caritas energy advisor, the scam text above was quickly identified helping the individual to stay safe and avoid being defrauded.

How to stay safe: 

• Genuine payments happen automatically – you don’t need to apply by text or email.
• Check the website address.  Real government sites end in .gov.uk. For example, trusted sites include www.gov.uk, www.nhs.uk, and www.hmrc.gov.uk.
• Scammers often use similar looking addresses like gov-uk.com or secure-gov.uk.info to trick people. If the link doesn’t end in .gov.uk, it’s best to avoid clicking and report it instead.
• Never share your personal or bank details unless you’re sure it’s safe.
• If you get a message which makes you unsure, do not follow links or reply. You can report it to Action Fraud or forward it, for free, to 7726.  This is a free service, supported by major mobile networks, and helps identify and block fraudulent senders.
• Once you forward a potential scam/spam text to 7726, your provider may ask for the sender’s number and then investigate the source. By reporting, you’re not only protecting yourself but also helping to reduce scam messages for everyone.

Need Help? 

If you’re not sure if you qualify or need help contacting your energy company, reach out to a Caritas energy advisor or visit us at one of our free drop-in sessions.  You can see where to find us by clicking here now, or can get in touch by phone on 0161 205 2754 or email at energyadvice@caritassalford.org.uk