How to claim the Bulb Warm Home Discount?

The Bulb Warm Home Discount page also lists the eligibility criteria for the scheme and gives you information on how to access the discount, making it easy to get the savings you’re entitled to.

What is the Warm Home Discount?

Who qualifies for the Warm Home Discount?

The Warm Home Discount is designed to make winter fuel bills more affordable for pensioners and low-income families. In order to qualify for the scheme, you need to fall into one of two groups: the ‘core group’ or the ‘broader group’.

The core group

The core group of households eligible for the Warm Home Discount is made up of pensioners who receive the Guarantee Credit part of the Pension Credit. The Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income if it’s below:

• £173.75 for single people
• £265.20 for couples

This means that, if your income is less than the Guarantee Credit threshold, you’ll automatically be entitled to the Warm Home Discount.
You may also be entitled to receive Guarantee Credit if your income is above this threshold but you meet one of the following criteria:

• You have a severe disability
• You are a carer
• You have to pay housing costs like a mortgage

You can find out if you qualify for the Guarantee Credit part of the Pension Credit scheme by calling the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234. Before you call the claim line, it’s a good idea to get your paperwork together so your eligibility can be assessed as quickly as possible. In order to make a claim, you’ll need:

• Your National Insurance Number
• Your bank account details
• Details of your income, savings and investments
• Details about your pension
• Information about any housing costs like your mortgage, service charges and interest payments
• Your partner’s details (if applicable)

The broader group

Like most energy suppliers, Bulb also offers the Warm Home Discount to a ‘broader group’ of customers. This group is made up of households that are living in, or are at risk of, fuel poverty.
The qualifying criteria for this group is broader than for the core group. And although it’s set by the government, energy companies are able to exercise their own discretion when accepting customers onto the scheme.
Generally, in order to be considered part of the broader group, you’ll need to be a recipient of at least one state benefit such as Income Support or Universal Credit. If your income is less than £16,000 per year, you may also be able to apply if:

• There is a child under five living permanently at the address
• You receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Incapacity Benefit or Attendance Allowance

Take a look at your supplier’s website to find out if they offer the Warm Home Discount and to learn about their eligibility criteria.

Bulb and the Warm Home Discount

Bulb Warm Home Discount Core Group

If you’re in the core group of Bulb customers eligible for the Warm Home Discount, you don’t need to apply for the scheme, the discount will be automatically credited to your account. Bulb counts core group customers as those who:

• Joined Bulb on or before 5 July 2020
• Receive the Guaranteed Credit element of Pension credit

If you fall into either of these categories, and pay your bill by Direct Debit, Bulb will apply the £140 Warm Home Discount to your account before 31st March.
If you’re a prepayment customer, Bulb will send you a Post Office voucher and instructions on how to redeem the discount.

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Bulb Warm Home Discount Broader Group

Ofgem sets the basic criteria for suppliers that offer the Warm Home Discount. However, suppliers are free to add additional criteria. As a result, there isn’t a single version of the eligibility criteria. This means you might qualify for the scheme with one supplier and not with another.
If you receive a state benefit like Income Support or Universal Credit, you may also be eligible for the Warm Home Discount. If you fall into this group, you’ll need to apply to the scheme every year in order to secure your discount.
In October 2020, Bulb expanded their broader group criteria in order to ensure as many customers were able to apply as possible. This means that you may now qualify for the Bulb Warm Home Discount, even if you haven’t been approved in the past.
In order to qualify for the broader group, you must receive both a low-income benefit and meet at least one additional eligibility criteria.
Qualifying low-income discounts include:

• Child Tax Credit that’s been awarded based on an annual income of £16,190 or less
• Council Tax Reduction with a total annual household income of £16,190 or less
• The Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit, if you weren’t with Bulb on 5 July 2020 and your old supplier didn’t offer the Warm Home Discount
• Housing Benefit with a total annual household income of £16,190 or less
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) which includes a support or work-related activity component
• The Savings element of Pension Credit
• Universal Credit with an earned income of £1,349 or less in at least one assessment period since 1 October 2019
• Working Tax Credit that’s been awarded based on an annual income of £16,190 or less

Bulb’s Additional Eligibility Criteria include:

• You’re responsible for a child aged 16 or younger who normally lives with you
• You’re aged 65 or older
• You get any UK armed forces benefit or pension
• You get a disabled child premium
• You get a disability premium, enhanced disability premium or severe disability premium (this includes Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment and Attendance Allowance)
• You get a pensioner premium, higher pensioner premium or enhanced pensioner premium
• You get the ‘limited capability for work’ or ‘limited capability for work and work-related activity’ element of Universal Credit
• You get the disabled child element of Universal Credit
• You get the disability or severe disability element of Child Tax Credit
• You get the Carer’s Premium or Carer’s Allowance for someone in your

home

• You get the disability or severe disability element of Working Tax Credit

How to apply for Warm Home Discount 2020/2021 with Bulb?

Would you like to know more about Bulb energy? Great! Check out these related articles

1. Bulb energy reviews
2. Bulb tariff
3. Bulb contact

FAQ

When can you apply for the Warm Home Discount?

The Warm Home Discount scheme opens for applications in October. The sooner you apply, the better. If you haven’t yet applied for the scheme, get in touch with Bulb to find out if they’re still processing applications.

Do I need to apply for Warm Home Discount every year?

If you fall into the core group, the Warm Home Discount will automatically be credited to your account. You won’t need to apply for it. The Department of Work and Pensions will send you a letter in October or November to let you know you’re eligible. This will also tell you if you need to take any action in order to receive the discount.
However, if you fall into the broader group, you will need to apply to the scheme every year. Ideally, you should apply in October to ensure you receive your discount as soon as possible.
As energy suppliers are able to set their own eligibility criteria, it’s important to check with your energy company to find out if you qualify. You’ll then be able to apply for the scheme through their website.

Is the Warm Home Discount scheme ending?

The Warm Home Discount scheme was due to end in 2021. However, it has now been extended to the winter of 2021/22.

When do I get the Warm Home Discount

If you’re eligible for the Warm Home Discount, the credit will be applied to your account before the 31st March.