£100 Household Energy Payment 2026: Who Qualifies?

Last updated: 6 November 2026

Who gets the £100 Household Energy Payment? As listed on 6 November 2026, GOV.UK says households in England whose main home is in Council Tax bands A to D, and who are liable for council tax, will get a one-off £100 from January 2027, under the Autumn Budget 2026 guidance published on 28 October 2026. If you pay council tax by Direct Debit, it is paid straight into your bank account; otherwise your council will invite you to apply. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland get extra funding to run their own support. The full eligibility rules have not been published yet. This SwitchSquid guide explains who qualifies, how and when you are paid, how to spot scams, other help you may be able to claim, and how £100 sits beside a typical bill under the £1,723 price cap. If you compare energy tariffs through links on this page, we may earn a commission; it does not change the price you pay.

Sources: GOV.UK: what the Autumn Budget 2026 means for your energy bills (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, 28 October 2026), GOV.UK council tax information letter 6/2026 and Ofgem’s price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026 and Ofgem’s press release of 26 August 2026, which sets the £1,723 typical bill, as listed on 6 November 2026.

Who qualifies for the £100 Household Energy Payment?

The government says households in England are eligible if they are liable for council tax on, and live in, a property in council tax bands A to D as their main home. Up to 20 million households are expected to qualify, including an estimated 83% of fuel-stressed households in England and 88% of households in the bottom three income deciles.

You can check your band on GOV.UK’s Check your Council Tax band service. If your bill shows band D or lower and the home is your main residence, you are very likely to qualify once the detailed rules are out.

When will the £100 be paid?

GOV.UK says payments will be made from January 2027. The council tax letter to councils describes it as a one-off payment for this financial year, delivered through the council tax system, with funding sent to councils in advance. The government says it will shortly publish detailed guidance for councils on eligibility, payment arrangements and the discretionary fund.

Some councils, including Peterborough, Plymouth and Crawley, have already posted their own plans. Several say Direct Debit payers do not need to do anything, and that the money will go into the bank account they already hold for your council tax. If you do not pay by Direct Debit, the advice from councils is simply to wait to be contacted. Setting up a Direct Debit now may help you receive the payment automatically, but check your council’s website for its own arrangements.

How to avoid Household Energy Payment scams

Any new payment attracts fraudsters. GOV.UK is clear: nobody other than your council should get in touch asking you to claim the rebate. Only give out personal information if you are certain it is your local council contacting you. The same applies to the Winter Fuel Payment and Cold Weather Payment: both are paid automatically, and GOV.UK warns that messages asking for bank details or passwords in the government’s name may be scams.

• Never pay a fee: the payment is free, and you never need to pay anyone to receive it.

• Do not click links in unexpected texts or emails: go to your council’s website yourself instead.

• Never give your card PIN or online banking passwords: no council will ask for them.

• If in doubt, call your council: use the number on your council tax bill, not one in the message.

Report suspicious messages by forwarding texts to 7726 and emails to report@phishing.gov.uk.

The £100 payment and the energy price cap

Ofgem’s price cap sets a typical dual fuel bill of £1,723 a year for a home paying by Direct Debit, for 1 October to 31 December 2026. These are the capped rates the one-off £100 sits beside.

So the payment helps, but it is a one-off set against a typical yearly bill of £1,723. Comparing tariffs is still worth doing, with the cap for January to March 2027 due to be announced by 25 November 2026. Our guide to the January 2027 price cap forecast covers what may happen next.

Other help with energy bills you can claim, including DWP payments

The £100 payment sits alongside several other measures, including two payments made by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Check each one, because many households can get more than one.

• Winter Fuel Payment (DWP): between £100 and £300 for winter 2026 to 2027 if you were born on or before 27 June 1960. Most people get it automatically, with a letter in October or November and payment in November or December 2026. If your income is over £35,000, HMRC takes it back, GOV.UK says. It is not paid in Scotland, where Pension Age Winter Heating Payment applies instead.

• Cold Weather Payment (DWP): £25 for each 7-day spell when the average temperature in your area is zero degrees or below, between 1 November 2026 and 31 March 2027, if you get certain benefits. It is paid automatically, per GOV.UK, and not in Scotland.

• Warm Home Discount: £150 off your bill if you receive certain means-tested benefits. See our Warm Home Discount guide.

• No VAT on household electricity: removed on 1 October 2026, saving an average of £45 a year, GOV.UK says, and the government is extending the cut to July 2027. Our VAT on electricity guide explains it.

• Gas standing charges: the government has asked Ofgem to remove standing charges from household gas bills as early as 2027, with the costs moved to the unit rate. Our guide to who saves from gas standing charge removal shows who gains.

• Debt Relief Scheme: if the bill payer is on means-tested benefits or disability benefits, or is a pensioner, and has built up energy debt since the 2022 to 2024 crisis, the debt may be written off if you re-engage with paying it. Ofgem will consult on the final design.

• Council discretionary fund: £100 million for councils to help households not eligible for the £100, including some in bands above D. Each council sets its own rules.

• Priority Services Register: free extra support from your supplier if you are older, disabled or need help. See our Priority Services Register guide.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

The Household Energy Payment applies in England only. GOV.UK says Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive additional funding, and their governments will decide how best to use it to provide similar support based on local needs. If you live outside England, watch your own government’s announcements and your council’s website rather than applying to any English scheme.

What to do while you wait for the payment

1. Check your council tax band and payment method. If you pay by Direct Debit, you should not need to do anything.

2. Take meter readings. Send them to your supplier so your bills are based on real use, not estimates.

3. Compare your tariff with the cap. Check any fixed deal’s unit rates and standing charges against the capped rates before you choose.

4. Check what else you can claim. Look at the Warm Home Discount and the Priority Services Register.

5. Talk to your supplier early if you are in debt. Re-engaging may make you eligible for debt relief once the scheme is designed.

If you are not sure which tariff suits your home, Squid AI can talk you through fixed and variable options. Our guide on whether to switch energy supplier covers the basics.

Fit summary

• You will get £100 automatically if: your main home in England is in band A to D and you pay council tax by Direct Debit.

• You will need to apply if: you qualify but pay council tax another way. Your council will invite you.

• Ask your council about its fund if: you are struggling but your home is in band E or above.

• Compare tariffs if: you want savings that last longer than a one-off payment.

Important conditions

• The full eligibility criteria and payment arrangements are still to be published by the government, so details may change.

• The payment is one-off. It is not a monthly or yearly discount.

• Price cap figures are Ofgem’s typical values for 1 October to 31 December 2026. Your bill depends on your own use, region and payment method.

• Comparison results depend on your postcode, meter and usage, and not every tariff appears on every comparison site.

Final decision card

If your main home in England is in Council Tax band A to D and you are liable for council tax, expect a one-off £100 Household Energy Payment from January 2027, paid automatically if you pay by Direct Debit. Ignore anyone except your council who contacts you about it. The £100 is a one-off set against a typical £1,723 yearly bill, so it is also worth checking the Warm Home Discount and comparing tariffs before Ofgem’s next cap announcement.

FAQ

Who gets the £100 Household Energy Payment?

Households in England whose main home is in Council Tax bands A to D, and who are liable for council tax, are eligible. GOV.UK says most households exempt from council tax will also be included, with full criteria to be published.

When will the £100 energy payment be paid?

Payments will be made from January 2027, according to GOV.UK. Your council will make the payment, and the exact date will depend on your council.

Do I need to apply for the £100 payment?

Not if you pay council tax by Direct Debit and live in bands A to D, because it will be paid into your bank account. If you pay another way, your council will invite you to apply.

Can I get the £100 if I live in Scotland or Wales?

Not under the English scheme. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive extra funding, and their own governments will decide how to provide similar support.

Is the £100 energy payment taken off my energy bill?

No. It is paid through the council tax system, not by your energy supplier. Direct Debit payers will get it in the bank account linked to their council tax.

Can I get the £100 payment and the Warm Home Discount?

Yes, if you qualify for both. The Warm Home Discount is a separate £150 for households on certain means-tested benefits, and the government points people to it alongside the new payment.

What other DWP help with energy bills is there this winter?

The DWP pays the Winter Fuel Payment of £100 to £300 to people born on or before 27 June 1960, and Cold Weather Payments of £25 for each 7-day freezing spell to people on certain benefits. Most people get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically, but GOV.UK says some people need to claim, so check its eligibility page. Cold Weather Payments are paid automatically to people on qualifying benefits. Scotland has its own winter heating payments instead.

What if my home is in band E or above?

You will not get the £100 payment. The government is giving councils £100 million for discretionary support, so check your council’s website for its rules once they are published.