Energy bills will be cut by £150 for millions more households this winter as the Warm Home Discount is expanded across the UK.
The change means every billpayer who receives means-tested benefits will qualify for the discount, which is automatically applied to bills by suppliers.
Writing exclusively for Metro, Sir Keir Starmer said the move is ‘deeply personal’ to him due to the cost-of-living pressures his family experienced while he was growing up.
The Prime Minister wrote: ‘For too many families, a letter through the door means another bill they struggle to afford.
‘I know what that’s like. Growing up, our phone was regularly cut off because it was the easiest bill to skip when finances were too stretched.’
Today’s move confirms plans announced in February by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.
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It means around 2.7 million more households around the country will receive the cut in their bills this winter, the government said, including 900,000 families with children and 1.8 million households in fuel poverty.
Overall, more than six million households will get the discount later this year, according to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
Starmer wrote: ‘But this isn’t just about numbers on a page. It’s about peace of mind.
‘It’s about knowing you can heat your home without fearing the next bill. And it’s about fairness — making sure support reaches the people who need it most.’
Miliband added: ‘Millions of families will get vital support with the cost of living this coming winter, demonstrating this government’s commitment to put money in people’s pockets through our Plan for Change.’
The expansion comes shortly after the government U-turned on cuts to the winter fuel payment, which is paid to qualifying pensioners to help pay for heating in cold weather.
Only those receiving Pension Credit got the benefit last winter, sparking sustained and damaging criticism that is thought to have contributed to Labour’s lacklustre performance in May’s local elections.
Earlier this month, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced it will go to all pensioners with an income below £35,000 this year.
Pensioners who meet the qualifying criteria will receive both the warm home discount, worth £150, and the winter fuel payment, worth up to £300.
Both are usually applied automatically – the warm home discount is taken off bills by the electricity supplier, while the winter fuel payment is paid directly into bank accounts.
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