One in four Barnet households now receive support reports Sophie Mitchell

Barnet Council's Colindale office — Barnet Council’s Colindale office

More than 41,000 Barnet households will receive the £150 Warm Homes Discount over the next year.

Eligible families will receive a one-off deduction on their energy bills to take the pressure off this winter. To qualify for a Warm Home Discount, you must have an account with a participating electricity supplier and receive either the Guarantee Credit portion of Pension Credit, or be on a low income with high energy costs. Any supplier with over 1,000 customers is required to participate.

The discount is funded by energy companies, not taxpayer money. It is applied to bills either directly, as credit, or in the form of a voucher for households with a meter system.

More than 1 in 4 households in Barnet will receive the assistance. The number of claimants has more than doubled this year, in 2024/25, fewer than 17,000 benefitted from the discount.

The benefits calculator on the Barnet Council website can help with identifying which benefits a household may be entitled to. Green Doctors, in partnership with Barnet Council, can provide free support to Barnet residents in saving money on their energy bills.

The council’s cabinet member for equalities and poverty reduction, Zahra Beg, said: “It is great news that more than 41,000 Barnet residents will benefit from the Warm Homes Discount.”

“Labour is taking a smart targeted approach to helping those who need our support. We will work with our partners like the Citizens Advice Bureau and our food banks […] to ensure those families who are eligible apply for the Warm Homes Discount.”

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