Households given Sunday, August 23, deadline as they risk losing £150

Millions of households are being urged to check their energy accounts before this Sunday or risk missing out on £150 towards their electricity bills. Around six million homes are expected to benefit from the Warm Home Discount, which provides eligible households with £150 off their electricity costs during the colder months. But there is an important date coming up for anyone expecting the help.

Households have been told to make sure the person who qualifies for the support is named on their electricity account by Sunday, August 23. Energy suppliers will use their records from that date to help establish who is eligible for the discount. This means problems with the name registered on an account could potentially result in someone missing out.

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The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is encouraging people to check their details now rather than leaving it until the last minute.

Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh said almost a million more families with children received the discount last winter after eligibility was expanded.

She added: "If you know someone who might benefit, please start spreading the word."

The Warm Home Discount isn't paid directly into a person's bank account. Instead, eligible households receive £150 off their electricity bill, usually during the period between October and March.

People do not normally need to apply for the scheme, with the discount provided automatically to those who qualify.

Eligibility can include households where the person named on the energy account receives certain means-tested benefits, including Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or income-related Employment and Support Allowance.

With Sunday's deadline approaching, households should find a recent electricity bill or log into their online energy account and check the name registered.

This could be particularly important for people who have recently moved home or separated from a partner, or where the energy account was originally opened in somebody else's name.

Prepayment customers can also receive the £150 support, but they should similarly check that their account is correctly registered.

Depending on the supplier, eligible prepayment customers may receive the discount through a voucher rather than having £150 automatically removed from a conventional electricity bill.

Most eligible households should receive their Warm Home Discount between October and March.