New research has revealed the areas of the UK with the biggest increase in Warm Home Discount claims – and the types of households who are most likely to receive it. The research was conducted by the business energy consultancy firm Utility Bidder.
The study analysed the number of UK households which have claimed the Warm Home Discount between 2022/23 and 2023/24. The benefit is a one-off payment worth £150, paid to households between the months of October and March.
It is paid to households on a low income and struggling with energy bills. But rather than the cash being issued to people’s bank accounts, it is taken directly as a deposit off energy bills.
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Households have been told they do not have to apply for the benefit, it is made automatically. A spokesperson for the Government said: “If you’re eligible, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill.
“The money is not paid to you. You’ll usually get the discount automatically if you’re eligible.” Eligible households are those on a low income, with high energy costs, and pensioner households on Pension Credit which get the guarantee element.
The study revealed the West Midlands came second for the highest number of claim increases between 2022/23 and 2023/24. The region saw a 34.3% increase in claims across the 12 months, rising from 261,631 to 351,611.
Alongside this, researchers revealed the types of households most likely to receive the Warm Home Discount. The research revealed urban areas have seen a large increase in the number of homes receiving the Warm Home Discount, with a year-on-year increase of 28.1%.
Households aged between 36 and 45 years of age have also seen a large increase of 49.7%. Meanwhile, researchers say single adult households with children are more likely to receive the benefit – increasing year on year by 61.9%.