Which winter energy schemes are paid automatically in 2026/27?

Cold Weather Payments and Scotland's Winter Heating Payment are paid automatically to people on qualifying benefits. Most eligible people get the Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment without claiming, and the Warm Home Discount is usually automatic. Council crisis funds and supplier hardship funds need an application.

What replaced the Household Support Fund for energy bills in England?

The Household Support Fund's last round ran from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. GOV.UK now names the Crisis and Resilience Fund as the council scheme in England for help with energy and water bills, food and essentials, with funding from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029. Each council sets its own rules.

Will HMRC take back my Winter Fuel Payment?

Only if your total income is over £35,000. GOV.UK says HMRC will usually collect it through your tax code, or through your tax bill if you complete Self Assessment. Your partner's income does not count, and the opt-out for winter 2026/27 has closed.

When is the January 2027 energy price cap announced?

Ofgem's timetable gives 25 November 2026 for the cap covering 1 January to 31 March 2027, and Ofgem says it may publish earlier if external reasons require it. The 1 October to 31 December 2026 rates apply to default tariffs until 31 December 2026.

Does Taupia apply for these schemes for me?

No. Taupia does not apply for benefits, grants or discounts for anyone. It monitors your energy bills, compares tariffs on your own usage and switches only once you approve. It is free and does not guarantee a saving.

Winter Energy Bill Help 2026/27: Schemes and Key Dates

Winter energy help for 2026/27 comes from several schemes, and each covers different parts of the UK. The biggest are the £150 Warm Home Discount, the Winter Fuel Payment of £100 to £300, £25 Cold Weather Payments, Scotland's own winter payments and council crisis funds. Most are paid automatically. Everything below was checked on 13 October 2026 against GOV.UK, mygov.scot, GOV.WALES, nidirect, Ofgem and Citizens Advice.

Which schemes help with energy bills in winter 2026/27?

Scheme	Amount	Who qualifies	Where	Key dates	Official page
Warm Home Discount	£150 off electricity	On 23 August 2026: a qualifying means-tested benefit, your name or your partner's on the bill and a supplier in the scheme. Scotland also has an application route through suppliers.	England, Wales, Scotland	Paid by 31 March 2027, says Citizens Advice	GOV.UK
Winter Fuel Payment	£100 to £300	Born on or before 27 June 1960, with a qualifying week of 21 to 27 September 2026. HMRC takes it back if your income is over £35,000.	England, Wales, Northern Ireland	Most paid in November or December 2026; claims close 31 March 2027	GOV.UK
Pension Age Winter Heating Payment	£105.55 to £316.70	State Pension age. HMRC takes it back if your individual income is over £35,000.	Scotland	Letters from November 2026	mygov.scot
Cold Weather Payment	£25 per 7-day cold spell	Certain benefits, such as Pension Credit, or Support for Mortgage Interest, when your area averages 0°C or below for 7 days in a row	England, Wales, Northern Ireland	1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027; paid within 14 working days	GOV.UK
Winter Heating Payment	£62.00, the payment mygov.scot lists	Qualifying benefits; it does not depend on the weather	Scotland	Paid from December	mygov.scot
Crisis and Resilience Fund	Set by your council	Council rules; you do not have to be on benefits	England	Funded 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029	GOV.UK
Scottish Welfare Fund	Grants you do not repay	Aged 16 or over, on a low income or certain benefits	Scotland	Apply through your council	mygov.scot
Discretionary Assistance Fund	Grants you do not repay	Extreme financial hardship. An Emergency Assistance Payment can cover gas, electricity or heating oil.	Wales	Heating oil only through an approved partner	GOV.WALES
Discretionary Support	Interest-free loan or grant	A crisis that seriously risks health, safety or wellbeing, within an income limit	Northern Ireland	Apply to the Finance Support Service	nidirect
Supplier hardship funds	Varies by supplier	Set by each supplier. The British Gas Energy Trust is open to people who are not British Gas customers.	Great Britain	Ask your supplier	Citizens Advice
Ofgem Debt Relief Scheme	Write-off of eligible debt	Means-tested benefits and £100 or more of energy debt built up from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2024	Great Britain	Ofgem planned phase 1 for early 2026	Ofgem
Priority Services Register	Extra services, not money	For example State Pension age, young children, a health condition or a recent bereavement	Great Britain	Join at any time	Ofgem

The Warm Home Discount does not affect your Winter Fuel Payment or Cold Weather Payments, according to GOV.UK. If you switched supplier or moved home after 23 August 2026, read our guide to the Warm Home Discount after moving or switching.

What are the key dates this winter?

19 October 2026: phone claims open for the Winter Fuel Payment, for people who need to claim.
1 November 2026: the Cold Weather Payment window opens in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
November 2026: Pension Age Winter Heating Payment letters start in Scotland.
25 November 2026: Ofgem publishes the price cap for 1 January to 31 March 2027. It says it may publish earlier if external reasons require it.
November or December 2026: most Winter Fuel Payments are paid.
21 December 2026: you can start opting out of the 2027/28 Winter Fuel Payment.
1 January 2027: default tariffs move to the new cap.
27 January 2027: contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre if you were eligible and have not been paid.
31 March 2027: Winter Fuel Payment claims close, the Cold Weather Payment window ends and Warm Home Discount payments are due.

What applies where you live?

England: Warm Home Discount, Winter Fuel Payment, Cold Weather Payments and the Crisis and Resilience Fund through your council.
Wales: the same national schemes, plus the Discretionary Assistance Fund for emergencies.
Scotland: the Warm Home Discount, where a core group gets it automatically and others apply to their supplier. The Pension Age Winter Heating Payment replaces the Winter Fuel Payment, the Winter Heating Payment replaces Cold Weather Payments, and the Scottish Welfare Fund covers emergencies.
Northern Ireland: the Winter Fuel Payment, Cold Weather Payments and Discretionary Support. The Warm Home Discount does not run there; GOV.UK points to the Affordable Warmth Scheme instead. Ofgem's price cap covers England, Scotland and Wales only.

What can your energy supplier do?

Ofgem says you can ask your supplier to agree a payment plan, payment break or reduction, to review your payments and debt repayments, and to give you access to hardship funds. Ask whether it has other grants too. Citizens Advice lists supplier funds from British Gas, EDF, E.ON Next, Octopus, OVO, ScottishPower and Utility Warehouse, and notes that some require debt advice before you apply.

The Priority Services Register gives extra help such as priority support in an emergency, advance notice of planned power cuts where possible and meter reading services. Join with each supplier separately, and again if you switch.

Ofgem's Debt Relief Scheme targets households on means-tested benefits with £100 or more of energy debt built up between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2024. Under Ofgem's delivery guidance, suppliers identify eligible customers and contact them; you do not apply. Ofgem planned phase 1 for early 2026, but we could not confirm on 13 October 2026 that it has started, so ask your supplier.

How does the price cap fit in?

For 1 October to 31 December 2026, Ofgem's cap works out at £1,723 a year for a typical dual-fuel household paying by direct debit, or £1,935 on the previous consumption basis that Taupia uses for like-for-like comparisons. The cap limits unit rates and standing charges, not your total bill. Ofgem also says there is no VAT on domestic electricity from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027; see our electricity VAT guide.

The UK energy price cap guide tracks every level, and the regional rates page shows how standing charges differ by area. Before the January change, read the January 2027 forecast and our guide on whether to fix before January. A fixed deal is not automatically cheaper, so compare on your own usage.

Where Taupia fits

Taupia does not apply for benefits, grants or discounts for anyone. It monitors your energy bills, compares tariffs against your own usage and switches only once you approve. It is free, and it never guarantees a saving. If you are struggling to pay now, contact your supplier and your council first.

Winter Energy Bill Help 2026/27: Every Scheme and Date

Quick answer

See where your own winter bill stands