Hundreds of thousands of Scottish households are being urged to watch for an important letter that could mean £150 off their energy bills this winter, with changes to the Warm Home Discount making it easier for families to receive help.

The UK Government has confirmed that letters will begin arriving from this week, with 345,000 households across Scotland set to receive the discount automatically during the winter of 2026 and 2027.

That represents an increase of around 250,000 Scottish households receiving the payment without having to make a separate application.

For families already facing the expense of heating their homes through the colder months, the £150 discount will provide welcome relief from household energy costs.

The Warm Home Discount is applied directly to eligible electricity bills rather than paid into people’s bank accounts.

Until now, many Scottish households have had to contact their energy supplier to claim the support, even when they met the qualifying criteria.

Changes to the administration of the scheme mean that most eligible households in Scotland will now receive the discount automatically, bringing arrangements closer to those already operating in England and Wales.

However, some customers will still need to provide additional information before the rebate can be applied.

Letters will explain whether the recipient qualifies automatically or needs to telephone the Warm Home Discount helpline to confirm their eligibility.

Anyone asked to provide further information must contact the helpline before 26 February 2027 to secure the discount for this winter.

The letters will be issued between October and January, meaning households should not assume they have missed out simply because nothing has arrived in the first few weeks.

The changes form part of a wider expansion of the scheme, which the government says will support around six million households across Britain this winter.

Nearly 2.3 million additional households, including around one million with children, benefited following the earlier expansion of eligibility.

Minister for Energy Consumers Polly Billington said:

“I know that many Scottish families will be struggling with their energy bills this winter.

“That is why I urge those who think they qualify for the Warm Home Discount to keep an eye out for a letter confirming their eligibility.

“Energy is an absolute essential, which is exactly why in October we cut VAT on all electricity bills and earlier this year we removed £150 of costs off bills, giving families breathing space this winter.”

The government says the discount forms part of its wider efforts to reduce pressure on household finances, alongside changes to electricity VAT and other cost of living measures.

For rural households across the Highlands and Islands, where colder weather and higher heating requirements can make winter particularly expensive, access to financial support remains important.

The discount is intended to reduce electricity costs, so it will not appear as a separate payment for heating oil or other fuels used to heat homes.

Households who receive a letter requesting further information should follow the official instructions and complete the process before the February deadline.

With letters arriving over the coming months, the message for eligible customers is simple: check your post, read any correspondence carefully and make sure you do not miss out on the £150 discount.