❄ Winter Welfare Hub 2026 ❄
Find information about financial support, grants, energy advice and practical help this winter.Explore support by category
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Financial support
Find information about welfare benefits, and seasonal support that may help with the higher costs in winter.
Grants and essentials
Information about finding charity grants, food support and baby banks to access the support that’s needed.
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Home, Utilities & Safety
Information about utilities and energy support, and addressing concerns around damp and mould.
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Financial Support
Benefits, winter payments and financial help available to eligible households.Warm Home Discount
Families may be eligible for a £150 discount off their electricity bill if they meet certain eligibility criteria. The payment is made automatically to eligible families.
The discount is applied directly to your electricity bill, taking £150 off, but if your electricity supplier supplies your gas, you can contact them to ask if they can apply the discount to your gas bill instead.
(Scheme opens in October 2026)
Cold weather payment
Some households in receipt of certain benefits automatically receive £25 for each 7 day period where the average temperature in their area is recorded as, or forecast to be 0°C or below for 7 consecutive days.
Christmas bonus
The Christmas Bonus is a tax-free payment of £10 that is distributed before Christmas to people in receipt of specific benefits during the ‘qualifying week’, the ‘qualifying week’ is usually the first full week of December.
Welfare benefits
Many families are not receiving all of the financial support that they are entitled to claim.
Use our integrated Benefits Calculator to find out what benefits and other sources of financial help you could be entitled to.
If you’d like to check your entitlement to welfare benefits with a benefits adviser, you can use our integrated Advice Finder tool.
Grants and essentials
Charity grants, food support and practical assistance for families.Grants search tool
Charity eBook
View our Charity eBook to explore charities that can support with specific items for children and young people with disabilities and long-term health conditions.
Support with food
Baby banks
Home, utilities and safety
Energy support, utility advice, home conditions and winter safety information.Free energy advice
Patients and families can contact Scope’s Disability Energy Support Service for advice.
If you need advice regarding energy-related debts, we would recommend that you contact a debt advisor. Use our integrated Advice Finder tool to search for debt advice. It will bring up trusted online resources, in addition to local advice services that can support with debt issues.
Oxygen concentrator rebates
Priority Services Register
The Priority Services Register (PSR) is a service where suppliers provide extra support to vulnerable customers. Families can fill out a form on the PSR website to apply for support. Alternatively, families can direct contact their electricity and/or gas providers.
You may need to contact your water provider separately to join their PSR.
The PSR provides prior updates in situations like power cuts, advance notice of necessary works, and can help provide electricity generators and bottled water to families in emergencies, if they use medical equipment which is dependent upon electricity and water. Electricity and gas companies work with local authorities, organisations like the British Red Cross and emergency services to provide extra support to people who are on the PSR.
You are eligible to join the PSR if any of the following (amongst other reasons) apply to members of your household:
- they use medical equipment which is dependent upon electricity and/or water
- they have a disability
- they have a chronic illness
- children below the age of five live in the household
You may need to contact your water provider separately to join their PSR.
Concerns around damp and mould
Cold weather increases the risk of damp and mould because poor ventilation and indoor moisture lead to condensation on cold surfaces. When condensation builds up, it can cause mould to grow.
You can view this page for information on:
- how to identify, treat and prevent damp, mould and condensation
- steps to report issues with damp and mould
- resources and further help
Health and Social Care professionals conducting home assessments can use a Damp and Mould toolkit to support with identifying damp and mould, assess clinical vulnerability, and take action.
Involuntary Installation of Pre-Payment Meters
Energy companies must only make involuntary pre-payment meter installations as a last resort. Inform your energy supplier of any medical needs or vulnerabilities to avoid improper installations. Read more about this here.
Compensation for those previously affected
Energy suppliers who did not follow rules when installing prepayment meters to collect debt without household permission between 1 January 2022 and 31 January 2023, have been ordered to pay compensation. If you have been affected, your energy supplier will contact you. Read more about this here.
Need personalised advice?
Not sure which support is right for you?
Coming soon:
our updated Winter Surge and
Community Support
documents.