Government to send letters confirming energy bill discount

More than a quarter of a million families will receive confirmation this week of their £150 discount on energy bills this winter, as part of the Government’s drive to help families tackle energy affordability.

The Prime Minister took the decision last year to expand the Warm Home Discount to a further 2.7 million families, meaning six million households now receive the help.

Covering households across England and Wales, letters will start arriving from today, with all those entitled to the discount set to receive one before January.

For the vast majority of recipients, £150 will be automatically deducted off their energy bill and they don’t need to take any action.

However, some households will need to provide extra information to ensure they get the discount, with the letters advising them to call the helpline provided. They will need an electricity bill or statement to confirm the billpayer’s name and account number.

It means around six million households will benefit this year, including 900,000 more families with children and a total of 1.8 million households in fuel poverty.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said “This cash injection will help people manage their bills while we fix the rusting energy system we inherited. Because it is only through our clean energy mission that we will get bills down for everyone in the long-run – creating jobs and economic growth along the way.”

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said “Letters will be dropping on doormats across the country this week containing welcome news for hundreds of thousands of families.

“This Government is determined to tackle energy affordability for families, and this winter more people will be helped as a result. And I would urge anyone who needs to provide extra information to follow the straightforward steps and make sure they get money off their bills this winter.”

Every billpayer on means-tested benefits now qualifies for the Warm Home Discount, removing restrictions that previously excluded many who needed help and providing peace of mind to millions more families.