The short version
- The Household Energy Payment is £100 for households in England in council tax bands A to D, paid from January 2027.
- You must be liable for council tax on the property and live there as your main home. Second homes and empty properties don't qualify.
- Pay council tax by direct debit and you needn't do anything: the money goes into the account you pay from. Otherwise your council will invite you to apply.
- The full eligibility criteria haven't been published yet, so details could change.
- Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland get funding and decide their own schemes.
What is the Household Energy Payment?
The Household Energy Payment is a one-off £100 for households in England, announced in the Autumn Budget on 28 October 2026. The government says it is to help with energy costs, and that up to 20 million households will be eligible. It is not the Winter Fuel Payment: it depends on your home's council tax band, not your age.
Who is eligible?
GOV.UK says you are eligible if you are liable for council tax on, and live in, a property in council tax bands A to D as your main home. That will include most households that are exempt from council tax. The full eligibility criteria are "to be published in due course".
| Your situation | Likely result |
|---|---|
| England, band A to D, you pay council tax, main home | Likely eligible |
| England, band E or higher | Not eligible for this payment |
| Second home or empty property | Not eligible |
| Householder isn't responsible for council tax | Not eligible |
| Council-tax-exempt household in band A to D | Most are included: wait for the full criteria |
| Student living in halls | Not eligible |
| Student in a private let in band A to D | Likely eligible: your council will arrange payment |
| Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland | Decided by their own governments |
Not sure which of these you are? The checker below asks a few quick questions.
Answer a few questions and see your likely result, based on the 28 October 2026 announcement.
How and when will it be paid?
The government says payments will be made from January 2027.
- You pay by direct debit and live in band A to D: you don't need to do anything. The £100 will be paid into the bank account you pay council tax from.
- You pay another way: your council will invite you to apply.
- You don't pay council tax, for example you're exempt or a student: your council will be responsible for finding a way to pay you. The government has said it will give councils guidance on this in due course.
How do I find my council tax band?
Your band is printed on your council tax bill. You can also look it up for free with GOV.UK's Check your Council Tax band service by entering your postcode. There's no need to pay anyone to find it.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
The scheme itself applies in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive extra funding, and their governments decide how to use it. The BBC reports that the Welsh Government has said it will make a £100 payment to households in council tax bands A to D, and that the Scottish Government has said it will "seek to replicate" the payment. We haven't seen confirmed details for any of the three, so we'll update this guide when they appear.
What if I miss out?
Not everyone struggling with energy bills lives in bands A to D. The government is giving councils an extra £100 million for discretionary support for households that aren't eligible. Each council sets its own criteria and will publish how to apply on its website once local arrangements are in place. You can find your local council on GOV.UK.
If you get means-tested benefits, you may also be eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount.
Watch out for scams
GOV.UK is clear that nobody other than your council should contact you asking you to claim the payment. Only give out personal information if you're certain the message really is from your council. If you're unsure, contact your council directly using the details on your council tax bill.
VAT on electricity
Separately from the £100 payment, the Budget documents say the temporary 0% rate of VAT on domestic electricity is extended to 30 June 2027. Without that, the rate would have gone back to 5% from 1 April 2027. This applies to household electricity, not to business supplies, and it needs secondary legislation to be laid in early 2027. It is announced, not law yet. The source is the Budget 2026 overview of tax legislation and rates on GOV.UK.
What we don't know yet
The announcement leaves some details to come: the full eligibility criteria, exactly how councils will pay people who don't pay by direct debit, and how the devolved governments will run their versions. We'll update this page and the checker when GOV.UK publishes more.
Questions people ask
Is the £100 Household Energy Payment the same as the Winter Fuel Payment?
No. The Household Energy Payment is a new payment announced in the Autumn Budget 2026, and it's based on your home's council tax band. The Winter Fuel Payment is a separate scheme with its own rules.
When will the £100 energy payment be paid?
The government says payments will be made from January 2027. Households that pay council tax by direct debit are expected to be paid straight into their bank account from the start of January, according to the BBC.
Do I have to apply for the £100 energy payment?
Not if you pay council tax by direct debit and live in band A to D. If you pay another way, your council will invite you to apply. Nobody other than your council should contact you about it.
How do I find out my council tax band?
It's printed on your council tax bill. You can also search by postcode on GOV.UK using the Check your Council Tax band service.
Will students get the £100 energy payment?
Students in halls won't, because halls aren't in council tax bands A to D. Students renting a private home or flat in band A to D will, and their council will work out how to pay them, because students don't pay council tax.
Can I get it if I rent and my landlord pays the council tax?
Probably not. GOV.UK says households where the householder isn't responsible for paying council tax aren't eligible. If you're unsure who is responsible at your address, ask your council.
What if I live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?
The scheme applies in England. The other nations get extra funding and decide their own schemes. The Welsh Government has said it will make a £100 payment to households in bands A to D, and the Scottish Government has said it will seek to replicate the payment. Details haven't been published.
Is VAT on electricity changing?
The Budget extended the temporary 0% rate of VAT on domestic electricity to 30 June 2027. Without the extension the rate would have been 5% from 1 April 2027. The change needs secondary legislation, which the government says it will lay in early 2027.
What help is there if I'm not in band A to D?
The government is giving councils an extra £100 million for discretionary support for households that don't qualify. Each council sets its own rules. If you get means-tested benefits you may also qualify for the £150 Warm Home Discount.
Sources
Checked against the sources below on 28 October 2026. The full eligibility rules are still to be published, so we will update this guide when they are.