The government has issued a reminder to eligible households to check they are named on their energy bill07:59, 22 Aug 2026Energy customers have just days left until Sunday to secure a £150 payment delivered directly into their accounts. Households must act by 23 August or risk missing out entirely.‌Approximately six million households will receive the rebate this winter, with roughly 250,000 in Scotland getting it automatically for the first time. Yet the Andy Burnham government has encouraged eligible households to verify they're named on their bill to receive the Warm Home Discount automatically.‌This comes after the Prime Minister's swift decision to scrap VAT on domestic electricity bills from 1 October as one of his earliest actions in office, knocking £45 off the annual Ofgem price cap. Officials said the reminder follows immediate measures to eliminate VAT from electricity bills from 1 October, providing households with cost-of-living relief.‌Those claiming means-tested benefits automatically qualify for the Warm Home Discount, provided they're listed as their household's energy bill payer. Their name must appear on the energy bill by 23 August to access the support, so checking now and making any required amendments is advisable.On Wednesday Ofgem will announce its quarterly energy price cap for the period October 1 to December 31. Household energy prices are set increase again to the highest level for three years heading into winter, according to new forecasts.Bills are due to increase despite the Prime Minister’s plan to remove VAT from household electricity bills from October. The energy price cap is currently expected to increase by 4% in October compared with the current rate, experts at Cornwall Insight said.‌For the £150 bonus, eligible customers using pre-payment meters who top up with a key or card will also need to confirm their household's account is registered under their name. Energy customers have been informed that 24 firms have joined a scheme delivering millions a £150 payment straight into their accounts.Every household where the billpayer receives means-tested benefits qualifies for the rebate. In England and Wales, those receiving Housing Benefit, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit and Universal Credit will be eligible – the same group as last winter.What benefits are covered?‌The government says around six million households are in line to receive the discount after the scheme was expanded last year.In England and Wales, households in receipt of the following benefits are eligible:Housing benefitIncome-related employment and support allowancePension creditUniversal credit‌In Scotland, around 250,000 households will get the payment automatically for the first time.They need to be claiming either:Pension creditThe extra amount of universal credit for a child or due to a disabilityA disability or pensioner premium of income-related employment support allowanceA disability or pensioner premium and have a support for a mortgage interest loanHave a child under five and are unemployed and get universal credit, or income-related employment support allowance or a support or mortgage interest loan.‌Energy bills have already risen by 13% this summer, and a further 4% hike is expected later in the year.Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh said: "Families will be worried about their energy bills this winter and our focus is on giving them breathing space, as we continue to work to bring down bills. Almost a million more families with children received the £150 Warm Home Discount last winter, after we expanded scheme."If you know someone who might benefit, please start spreading the word and encourage them to check they are named on their energy bill. ".‌The government is urging eligible households to verify they are named on their electricity bill, with providers set to rely on customers' records as of Sunday 23 August.Someone may not be listed on their electricity bill if they have recently relocated. Eligible customers using pre-payment meters who top up with a key or card must also ensure their household account is registered under their name.Earlier this year, the government confirmed that millions of qualifying households will continue to receive the Warm Home Discount right through to 2030/1, securing the scheme for the remainder of the decade.‌Last year's Budget delivered an average saving of £150 on energy bills, a reduction that has already been built into future billing calculations. The government also stated that the Warm Homes Plan is designed to cut energy consumption, slash bills for millions of households and help tackle fuel poverty across the country.Cornwall said it expected a typical household to be facing an annual bill of £1,729, from October, up from £1,663, based on an Ofgem’s updated definition of a typical consumer, which came into effect from July to reflect falling household energy use.It said this would be the equivalent of £1,941 per year based on its previous calculations, up from £1,862 currently. It would mark the highest average bill since July 2023.‌The increased October cap, which will remain in place for three months, will come into force as households start to increase their energy usage further by using their heating more regularly, adding to bills.The following suppliers will be part of the winter 2026 to 2027 scheme:100Green (formerly Green Energy UK or GEUK)BoostBritish GasE - also known as E (Gas and Electricity)EcotricityEDFEnergyCoop – see Octopus EnergyE.ON NextFuse EnergyGood EnergyHome EnergyLondon PowerOctopus EnergyOutfox EnergyOVOSainsbury’s EnergyScottish Gas – see British GasScottishPowerSo EnergySquare 1 Energy LtdTruEnergyTulo EnergyUtilitaUtility Warehouse‌Cornwall said the expected increase in October will be less than otherwise expected because of the proposed removal of VAT from household electricity bills.The Prime Minister previously said this would knock around £45 off the annual Ofgem price cap from October.However, the experts said the recent swing in global energy prices has more than offset the downward impact of the VAT policy.‌Dr Craig Lowrey, principal consultant at Cornwall Insight, said: “Rising energy bills aren’t welcome at the best of times, but with winter approaching this latest hike will hit struggling households especially hard.“Driven by international conflict rather than domestic policy, it is a stark reminder that our energy bills remain tied to events thousands of miles away.“Moments like this are the strongest argument for reducing Britain’s reliance on volatile international gas.‌“While temporary relief like VAT cuts help soften the blow, they don’t touch the underlying fact that Britain is heavily dependent on imports of natural gas.”A Government spokesman said: “Tackling the cost of living remains a key priority for this Government and we know families will be worried by the prospect of higher energy bills this winter.“We’re acting to give consumers breathing space with the cost of living – cutting VAT on energy bills, ensuring around six million households get the £150 warm home discount this winter, and making millions of homes cheaper to run through our warm homes plan.Article continues below“Alongside our efforts to support rapid de-escalation in the Middle East, we will do everything we can to shield consumers from global energy shocks and bring down bills for good.”