The Warm Home Discount is a support scheme for households who may struggle to pay their energy bills during the colder months – and applications are now open for winter 2020

Tens of thousands of households are unaware they qualify for a £140 discount on their winter energy bills – and the clock is ticking to claim it.

The Warm Home Discount is an annual scheme offered to more than a million families who may struggle to pay their gas and electricity bills over the colder months.

It’s a one-off £140 discount – and is available to those on certain state benefits and others who may be classed as vulnerable, such as pensioners.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which runs the scheme, says 1million retired people have already been enrolled because they claim pensions credit.

It said the money will be taken off their bills by March 2021, with most pensioners receiving their discounts between now and January.

A further 220,000 pensioners who meet the eligibility criteria but do not automatically qualify are now being contacted ahead of winter.