Energy providers, including British Gas, E.On, EDF, and OVO will be paying hard-up customers £150 in the coming months to help with energy bills.

The payment, referred to as the Warm Home Discount, is distributed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and is applied directly to certain vulnerable Britons’ bills if their provider is signed up to the scheme.

The scheme opens in October, with payments beginning in November.

Most eligible households, such as state pensioners who receive Pension Credit, will receive a letter between November and January confirming their discount.

However, households should remain alert, as they may need to make a claim if they believe they are eligible but don’t receive the payment.

Who is eligible for the Warm Home Discount?

There are different ways to qualify for the Warm Home Discount Scheme, and it depends on where a person lives.

Those who reside in England and Wales can qualify if their energy provider is part of the scheme and they either:

Low-income benefits that may be eligible include Universal Credit, Income Support, Housing Benefit, and Tax Credits.

Those who reside in Scotland can qualify if their energy provider is part of the scheme and they either:

Which energy suppliers are part of the Warm Home Discount scheme?

So far, the following suppliers are part of the scheme:

• 100Green (formerly Green Energy UK or GEUK)
• Affect Energy – see Octopus Energy
• Boost
• British Gas
• Bulb Energy – see Octopus Energy
• Co-op Energy – see Octopus Energy
• E – also known as E (Gas and Electricity)
• Ecotricity
• E.ON Next
• EDF
• Good Energy
• London Power
• Octopus Energy
• Outfox the Market
• OVO
• Rebel Energy
• Sainsbury’s Energy
• Scottish Gas – see British Gas
• ScottishPower
• Shell Energy Retail
• So Energy
• Tomato Energy
• TruEnergy
• Utilita
• Utility Warehouse.

If a person’s electricity supplier stops trading, they may still be eligible for the discount.

A statement on GOV.UK reads: “Ofgem will appoint a new supplier for you. Check with your new supplier if you’re eligible for the discount.”