Warm Home Discount recipients need to check one detail that can make them ineligible

As the UK basks in another heatwave, some households need to start planning for winter and the increased heating bills that come with it. Eligible households can look forward to a bit of relief from the Warm Home Discount scheme, but the government is urging them to ensure the correct person is named on their electricity bill before 24 August.

The Warm Home Discount offers a one-off £150 discount on your electricity bill. It's usually applied automatically, but some may need to apply through their energy supplier or after receiving an eligibility letter between October and January. To receive the automatic £150 savings, the person named on the electricity bill must be receiving a qualifying means-tested benefit. This could spell trouble for some households.

For instance, those who have recently moved house or switched suppliers and haven't yet updated the name on their bill. People using pre-payment meters also need to ensure their household account is registered in the correct name.

Sunday, 24 August is the qualifying date for this benefit. This is when suppliers will begin using customer records to determine who qualifies for the discount automatically.

Eligible households should aim to get the right person named on the bill before this date to ensure they receive their £150 discount automatically. If you don't meet the deadline, you may still be able to get the discount but will need to wait for a letter informing you of your eligibility before you apply.

Minister for Energy Consumers Miatta Fahnbulleh said: "I now want to make sure as many eligible households as possible get £150 off their energy bill, putting more money in their pockets as part of our Plan for Change.

"If you know someone who might be eligible - please start spreading the word to family and friends, encouraging them to check they are named on their energy bill."

To qualify for the discount, people in England or Wales need to be claiming one of the qualifying means-tested benefits which includes housing benefit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income support, pension credit and Universal Credit.

People living in Scotland will only receive their discount automatically if they get the guarantee credit element of Pension Credit.

If they receive other qualifying benefits they may need to apply for their discount via their energy supplier. The Government has rolled out an extension to the Warm Home Discount scheme for the upcoming winter season.

All households with a billpayer receiving an eligible benefit will be entitled to the discount. This equates to an additional 2.7 million households set to receive the £150 discount this year. More information about the discount can be found on the Gov.ukwebsite.