Piggybank
The core group
More than 600,000 pensioners will get the £120 discount off their winter electricity bill without claiming. They are single pensioners who get the guarantee part of pension credit and only get that part. That means their income will be around £103 a week or about £164 a week for couples. If their income is higher and they get savings credit as well then they will not qualify. The discount should be paid automatically, the qualifying date was September 11 and they will get a letter from the DWP confirming their entitlement in November.
The broader group
Some people who do not qualify for an automatic payment may still get the £120 discount. To qualify they must fulfil several conditions. They must get income support or the means-tested version of jobseeker's allowance or employment and support allowance. They must also have a child under five OR get a disability premium with their means-tested benefit. In addition, pensioners who get the guarantee part of pension credit but don't get an automatic payment because they also get savings credit are in this broader group. Just to confuse things further, energy companies can have their own rules which may be more generous.
People in the broader group will not get the discount automatically they must apply. And because there is a limited amount of money available the sooner they apply the better their chance of getting it.
Each energy supplier has its own procedures. Look on your latest bill and ring customer support. Don't take no for an answer - if you qualify insist you go on the list. British Gas has promised that anyone eligible who registers before the end of January 2012 will get the discount. Other firms admit it will be first come first served.
People already getting a reduced tariff because of their circumstances will not be moved to Warm Home Discount this year unless they ask. They may be worse off if they do.
Other rules
There are two other conditions that all groups must fulfil. The person who qualifies - or their partner - must be the named person on the electricity bill. And they must buy their electricity from one of the big six energy suppliers or one of two smaller ones, Ebico or Utility Warehouse. Other small firms are not in the scheme.
People with a prepayment meter are not excluded. They will be sent a cheque or payable order. The discount is only off an electricity bill because all households have electricity.