# Heatpay — your energy help check

**Verdict: Yes, but you must wait for your council's invitation to apply (from January 2027).**

Checked as of 2026-11-14.

## What may stack up for you

| Help | Status | Amount | How it arrives | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Household Energy Payment | likely | £100 | Your council will invite you to apply from January 2027. Do not apply through any other route — only respond to your own council. | [source](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/what-the-autumn-budget-2026-means-for-your-energy-bills) — “If you don’t pay by direct debit, your council will invite you to apply for the rebate directly.” |
| Warm Home Discount | likely | £150 | Usually automatic: your electricity supplier takes £150 off your bill by 31 March 2027 (the money is not paid to you). Eligibility is based on 23 August 2026, your supplier being in the scheme, and your name being on the electricity bill. Watch for the letter between late October 2026 and early January 2027. | [source](https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme) — “The qualifying means-tested benefits are: Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Pension Credit” |
| Council discretionary fund (£100m) | possible | — | This fund is aimed at households not eligible for the £100. If you are still struggling, you can ask your council — it sets its own criteria, not yet published. | [source](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/what-the-autumn-budget-2026-means-for-your-energy-bills) — “we’re providing an additional £100 million for local authorities to provide discretionary support to these households who are not eligible for the £100 rebate” |
| Energy Debt Relief Scheme | no | — | This scheme covers debt built up since the energy crisis of 2022–4. You said you do not have energy debt from that period. | [source](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/what-the-autumn-budget-2026-means-for-your-energy-bills) — “If the energy billpayer in your household is on means-tested benefits, disability benefits, or is a pensioner, and you have built up debt since the energy crisis of 2022-4, you will be eligible to have your debt written off through the Debt Relief Scheme, provided you take steps to re-engage with paying your debt.” |
| Electricity VAT cut | automatic | Average £45 a year (GOV.UK) | Automatic on household electricity bills — no VAT from 1 October 2026 to 30 June 2027 (Citizens Advice); 5% VAT returns from 1 July 2027. You do not apply. A text or email asking you to apply is likely a scam. | [source](https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/grants-and-benefits-to-help-you-pay-your-energy-bills/) — “You won’t pay VAT on your electricity bills from 1 October 2026 to 30 June 2027. You’ll pay standard 5% VAT again from 1 July 2027. You’ll automatically get the VAT cut if you pay your electricity bills.” |

## Message check: high risk

- It asks for bank, card or account details.
- It includes a link to "claim" or "apply" for the money. Direct Debit households never need to claim, and non-Direct Debit households are invited by their own council.
- It claims to be from DWP, HMRC, Ofgem or "the Government" rather than your local council. Only your council delivers the £100.
- It uses urgency or a deadline to rush you.

Safe action:

- Do not click links and do not give personal information or bank details.
- Contact your council yourself via GOV.UK Find your local council — never use contact details in the message.
- Forward suspicious texts free to 7726 (NCSC reporting scheme).

> “Nobody other than your council should get in touch asking you to claim the rebate.” — [GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/what-the-autumn-budget-2026-means-for-your-energy-bills)

## Gas standing charge — ILLUSTRATION — not a forecast

Standing charge used: 29.68p/day. Typical gas use (Ofgem TDCV): 9,500 kWh/year. Unit-rate uplift in this illustration: 1.14p/kWh.
At your use (8,000 kWh/year): −£17.11 a year (negative means you save).

| User | Gas kWh/year | Annual change |
|---|---|---|
| Low user (half typical) | 4,750 | −£54.17 |
| Typical user (Ofgem TDCV) | 9,500 | £0.00 |
| High user (double typical) | 19,000 | £108.33 |

GOV.UK says standing charges on gas bills could be removed "as early as 2027", with the costs moving to the unit rate; Ofgem's design is still pending and targeted mitigation for some high-use households is to come. This illustration assumes a simple revenue-neutral move at typical use, so low users gain and high users pay more. Your region and tariff will differ.

## Next steps

- **Sat 14 Nov 2026** — Optional: you could set up a council tax Direct Debit — some councils say Direct Debit payments are prioritised (for example Telford & Wrekin). That is a local example, not a national rule; staying non-Direct Debit is fine if you wait for your council's invitation.
- **Fri 1 Jan 2027** — Payments start: watch for your own council's invitation to apply. Ignore any other message asking you to claim.
- **Tue 5 Jan 2027** — Warm Home Discount: if you have had no letter by early January 2027 and think you are eligible, contact the Warm Home Discount Scheme (you must do so before 26 February 2027).
- **Sun 31 Jan 2027** — Suggested check-in: if your £100 has not arrived (or you have had no invitation), contact your council via GOV.UK Find your local council. Use the copy-paste note below if it helps.
- **Fri 26 Feb 2027** — Warm Home Discount deadline: if your letter asks for more information, call the helpline by this date to confirm your details.
- **Wed 31 Mar 2027** — Warm Home Discount: your electricity supplier should have applied the £150 discount to your bill by this date.
- **Wed 30 Jun 2027** — Electricity VAT cut ends (no VAT ran from 1 October 2026 to 30 June 2027 per Citizens Advice); standard 5% VAT returns from 1 July 2027.

## Note to send your council

```text
Dear Council Tax team,

I am writing about the £100 Household Energy Payment for council tax bands A to D, which I understand councils will pay from January 2027.
I do not pay my council tax by Direct Debit. Please could you tell me how you will invite households like mine to apply, what evidence you will need to verify bank details, and how I can check that a message about the payment genuinely comes from the council?
Please could you also tell me how your discretionary fund for households who need energy support but are not eligible for the £100 will work, and when eligibility and application details will be published?

Thank you for your help.
```

Full eligibility criteria are still to be published. GOV.UK says most council-tax-exempt households will be included; until councils publish final guidance, treat "likely" as likely, not certain, and check GOV.UK / GOV.WALES and your council.

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Heatpay · Daily Ships · Educational guide, not financial or legal advice. Rules as published by 14 Nov 2026 — full eligibility criteria are still to be published; check GOV.UK / GOV.WALES and your council.