Government Consultation on Warm Home Discount

A government consultation is now open on Warm Home Discount which you, or your agency, may be interested in responding to. The consultation will remain open until 20th November. Extracts from the government information on the consultation summarising the proposals can be found below, but see the full document for all the details.

Proposals for Scotland from 2026 to 2027

Under the consultation, there are three main proposals for Scotland which are being consulted on:

Option 1 – Retain eligibility criteria and arrangements as for 2025 to 2026

'The government is consulting on an option to retain the scheme in Scotland for the next scheme period, as it is set out for winter 2025 to 2026 in terms of both eligibility criteria and the application process for rebates for the Broader Group.

Under this option, in Scotland, the Warm Home Discount scheme would retain three parts, with eligibility criteria remaining the same as during winter 2025 to 2026.'

Option 2 – Replacing the Broader Group introducing automatic data matching and eligibility based on existing mandatory benefits and additional vulnerability criteria

'Under this option it is proposed there would be three key changes for the Broader Group in Scotland:

1. Changes to eligibility for Warm Home Discount rebate in Scotland replacing the Broader Group criteria with a Core Group determined by qualifying benefits (as for the current scheme) with a requirement to meet additional vulnerability criteria, and;

2. The introduction of automatic data matching for qualifying households and;

3. The introduction of helpline support for additional data matched Scottish households by government through the Warm Home Discount helpline'

   
   

Option 3 – Replacing the Broader Group introducing automatic data matching and eligibility based on qualifying benefits

'Under this option it is proposed there would be three key changes for the Broader Group in Scotland:

1. Changes to eligibility for Warm Home Discount rebate in Scotland replacing the Broader Group criteria with a Core Group determined by Means-Tested qualifying benefits without the requirement for an additional vulnerability criteria, and;

2. The introduction of automatic data matching for qualifying households and;

3. The introduction of helpline support for additional data matched Scottish households by government through the Warm Home Discount helpline'

   
   

Find full details on all of the options, accompanying information and consultation questions at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/continuing-the-warm-home-discount-scheme/continuing-the-warm-home-discount-scheme-consultation-document#general-information

You can respond to the consultation online at Respond online, with email or post options also available by following the consultation details link above.