Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he has made an assessment of the potential merits of altering eligibility requirements so that all recipients of Universal Credit can access the Warm Homes Discount.

The Government has reformed the Warm Home Discount scheme in England and Wales from 2022/23 to focus the support to households at greater risk of fuel poverty and to provide most rebates automatically. Households both in receipt of a qualifying means-tested benefit and who live in a property with a high energy cost score may be eligible to receive a rebate.

Extending the scheme to all recipients of Universal Credit would decrease the proportion of recipients in fuel poverty and increase the cost of the scheme significantly.

In Scotland, energy suppliers can set their own criteria in addition to the minimum eligibility criteria as set in the Regulations, subject to approval by Ofgem.