State pensioners whose winter fuel payment was cut by £300 will receive £150 DWP rebate

State pensioners whose Winter Fuel Payment has been cut can look forward to a £150 discount from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The Warm Home Discount scheme gives everyone who is eligible a £150 discount on their electricity bill.

People who qualify can expect to receive their letters from the DWP from October this year, with grants available until the end of March next year. The Warm Home Discount scheme is designed to help those who may struggle to pay their energy bills during the cold winter months.

It is a one-off payment of £150 that is used as a credit on your energy bill. There are now two core groups in England and Wales. There is 'Core Group 1', who receive the guaranteed part of the pension credit, and 'Core Group 2', who receive certain income-related benefits and the highest heating bills.

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In Scotland there is also the 'Core Group' and the 'Broader Group'. If you are in the Core Group you may automatically be eligible for the Warm Home Discount scheme. The DWP will let you know. To receive the Warm Home Discount you must be the named account holder or the partner of the account holder.

You may be in core group 1 if you were receiving the guaranteed credit portion of Pension Credit in England and Wales (and Scotland) on the reference date. You may be in core group 2 (in England and Wales) if you were receiving income-related benefits with the highest heating costs on the reference date.

Eligible benefits for Core Group 2 include income-related Employment and Support Allowance, income-related Unemployment Allowance, Income Support, Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Allowance and Working Allowance or Pension Savings Credit.