The Household Energy Payment Is a One-Off £100 for Council Tax Band A to D Main Homes in England, Paid From January 2027
According to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) on 28 October 2026, the Household Energy Payment is a one-off £100 for households in Council Tax bands A to D in England, paid from January 2027 to up to 20 million main homes.
The payment was announced in the Autumn Budget 2026 on 28 October 2026. In his Budget speech, Chancellor John Healey described it as a £2.6bn scheme, with the money paid directly into people’s bank accounts. The same day, the London outlet MyLondon published an interactive map on who would get the £100, and readers living in the UK started asking the obvious follow-ups: what if I rent, have just moved here, or live in Scotland?
This guide starts from who qualifies and how the money arrives, splits the answer by living situation, and sets out what else the same Budget changes on electricity and gas bills.
Key Points
- Who should pay attention: homeowners and tenants in England who are named on their own Council Tax bill; tenants in shared houses or bills-included lets where the landlord pays Council Tax; new arrivals in the UK, such as families who came on the British National (Overseas) visa; and anyone living in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland or owning a second home.
- Three questions decide it: is the home in England, is it in Council Tax band A to D, and are you the person liable for Council Tax who lives there as your main home.
- If you pay Council Tax by Direct Debit, you do not need to apply; the money goes into your bank account. Everyone else will be invited to apply by their local council.
- The eligibility reference date, the application process for non-Direct Debit payers and how students and shared houses are treated have not been published yet; councils were told on 28 October 2026 that detailed guidance would follow “shortly”.
Who Gets the Household Energy Payment? Check Your Living Situation
The eligibility rules below come from the DESNZ explainer of 28 October 2026. Rows marked “appears” or “to be confirmed” are read from the official exclusions and are not yet covered by formal guidance:
| Your situation | Do you get the £100? | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| Homeowner in England, band A to D, paying your own Council Tax | Yes | Automatic if you pay by Direct Debit; otherwise wait for your council’s invitation |
| Tenant in England, band A to D, named on the Council Tax bill | Yes | The test is who is liable for Council Tax and lives there, not whether you rent or own |
| Rent includes Council Tax and the landlord pays it (some shared houses, bills-included lets) | Appears not | Households where the householder isn’t responsible for Council Tax are excluded; watch for your council’s discretionary fund |
| Council Tax band E or above | No | Ask your council about the £100m discretionary fund |
| Council Tax-exempt households (for example, all full-time students) | Most are included; full criteria to be confirmed | DESNZ says “most” exempt households will be covered |
| Second homes and empty properties | No | Only main homes count |
| New arrivals in the UK (for example, BN(O) visa holders) | Same rules; reference date to be confirmed | The published criteria do not mention nationality or immigration status |
| Living in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland | Not part of this scheme | The three governments receive funding and decide how to use it |
You can find your band with the government’s “Check your Council Tax band” service by entering your postcode.
How the Household Energy Payment Is Paid: Automatic by Direct Debit, Otherwise by Council Invitation
DESNZ sets out two routes:
- You pay Council Tax by Direct Debit and live in band A to D: you don’t need to do anything. The £100 is paid straight into your bank account.
- You don’t pay by Direct Debit (for example, manual online payments or cash at the Post Office): your council will invite you to apply, and each council will publish how.
A letter from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to councils in England, dated 28 October 2026 and published on gov.uk on 29 October, confirms that this is a one-off payment for this financial year, that councils are expected to start paying from January 2027, and that detailed guidance on eligibility, payment arrangements and the discretionary fund will be published “shortly”.
DESNZ also warns that nobody other than your council should contact you asking you to claim. If a text, email or call asks for your bank details, check with your council directly and do not click links in the message.
What Else the Budget Changes on Electricity and Gas Bills
Beyond the £100, the same Budget includes several measures that will show up on bills. All of the following come from the DESNZ explainer of 28 October 2026, unless noted:
| Measure | What it does | Timing | Who it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| No VAT on household electricity | VAT removed from household electricity bills from 1 October, saving an average of £45 a year | Extended to July 2027 | Household electricity across the UK |
| Gas standing charges removed | Government has asked Ofgem to remove standing charges from household gas bills; the costs move into the unit rate | As early as 2027 | Low users are likely to benefit; targeted help for some high-use vulnerable households to follow |
| Warm Home Discount | £150 off the electricity bill, applied by the supplier, not paid as cash | Applied by 31 March 2027 for eligible households (GOV.UK) | People on certain means-tested benefits; not available in Northern Ireland |
| Debt Relief Scheme | One-off relief on energy debt built up since the 2022 to 2024 energy crisis, for those who re-engage with their supplier | Ofgem to consult on the final design | Billpayers on means-tested or disability benefits, or pensioners |
| £100m discretionary fund | Councils support households not eligible for the £100 who most need help, including some above band D | Each council sets and publishes its own criteria | England |
The Warm Home Discount has its own qualifying date. According to GOV.UK, the “core group” in England and Wales must, on 23 August 2026, have been getting Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, income-related ESA or Pension Credit, with their own or their partner’s name on the electricity bill. Eligible households are sent a letter between late October 2026 and early January 2027.
What Has Not Been Published Yet
As of 29 October 2026, the following points were still awaiting official guidance, so treat anything you read online about them as unconfirmed:
- The reference date: which date decides whether you live in the property and are liable for Council Tax. This matters most for people who have just moved or just arrived in the UK.
- How non-Direct Debit payers apply: councils will invite applications, but forms, deadlines and documents are up to each council.
- Which exempt households are covered: DESNZ says “most” are, so student-only households and similar cases depend on the final criteria.
- Shared houses and bills-included lets: households where the householder isn’t responsible for Council Tax are excluded, but how this is applied in practice depends on the guidance.
- Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: none of the three governments has yet said whether or how much it will pay.
Common Misconceptions About the Household Energy Payment
- Misconception: every UK household gets £100. Only main homes in England, in bands A to D, where you are liable for Council Tax. Band E and above, second homes and empty properties are excluded.
- Misconception: renters miss out. The test is who pays Council Tax, not tenure. If the bill is in your name and you live there, you meet the basic conditions.
- Misconception: you have to fill in an online form. Direct Debit payers do not apply at all; others wait for their council, not a third-party website.
- Risk: mistaking a scam for an official notice. The government says only your council will contact you. Ignore messages that ask you to click a link or enter banking passwords.
- Misconception: removing the gas standing charge saves everyone money. The cost moves into the unit rate, so low users are likely to gain and high users may not.
Three Typical Cases: Do I Get the £100?
Case 1: A tenant in a one-bedroom flat in Manchester who pays her own bills. Her flat is in band B, the Council Tax bill is in her name and she pays by Direct Debit. Under the DESNZ rules she qualifies without applying, and her council should pay the money into her bank account from January 2027. All she needs to do is make sure the council holds the right bank details.
Case 2: An international student in a London shared house where rent includes bills and Council Tax. The landlord handles Council Tax and he is not the liable person. Under the official exclusions, this household appears not to qualify for the £100. If money is tight, he can check his council’s discretionary fund once its criteria are published.
Case 3: A family who arrived on BN(O) visas in September 2026 and has just rented a home. The house is in Birmingham, band C, and Council Tax is registered in the husband’s name, though not yet on Direct Debit. The published criteria do not mention immigration status, so what matters is the reference date and whether they are liable. They can confirm the council has the home registered as their main residence and wait for the council’s invitation. The Warm Home Discount depends on benefits received on 23 August 2026, before they arrived, so this year it appears not to apply.
Household Energy Payment FAQ: Eligibility, Timing and Other UK Nations
When will the Household Energy Payment be paid?
According to MHCLG’s letter to councils, councils are expected to start paying from January 2027. Households paying Council Tax by Direct Debit will receive a bank transfer; others must wait for their council to invite an application, so timing will vary. Check the timetable your own council publishes.
Can renters get the Household Energy Payment?
Yes, if you are the person liable for Council Tax, live in the property as your main home, and it is in England in band A to D. If your landlord pays Council Tax, for example in a bills-included let, the official exclusions suggest you do not qualify, but your council’s discretionary fund may help.
I have just moved to the UK. Can I get the £100 energy payment?
The published criteria do not mention nationality or immigration status. What matters is whether you are liable for Council Tax, live in the property as your main home, and the home is in England in band A to D. The reference date has not been published, so newcomers should make sure Council Tax is registered in their name and watch for council notices.
Is there a Household Energy Payment in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?
The £100 scheme applies in England only. The Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland governments receive additional funding and will decide how to provide similar support. As of 29 October 2026, none had announced a specific scheme.
My home is in Council Tax band E. What support can I get?
Band E and above do not get the £100, but the government is giving councils in England a £100m discretionary fund for households who are not eligible and most need support. Each council sets its own criteria and will publish them on its website. If you receive means-tested benefits, check the £150 Warm Home Discount too.
Can I get both the Household Energy Payment and the Warm Home Discount?
They are separate schemes, and the government has not said they exclude each other. The £100 depends on your Council Tax band and main home; the £150 Warm Home Discount depends on benefits received on 23 August 2026 and your name on the electricity bill, and is applied to the bill rather than paid as cash.
Living in the UK and Unsure Where You Stand? Ask Zagdim
If you have just moved to the UK and are not sure how Council Tax and these payments apply to you, start with Ask Zagdim and then check your local council’s latest notices.
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Important Disclaimer
This article is general information and does not constitute legal, tax, financial or other professional advice. It is based mainly on UK government pages, the Budget speech and council guidance letters published between 2024 and 2026. Detailed eligibility and application rules for the £100 are still to be published, and whether a household qualifies is decided by its local council. Rules can change, so check GOV.UK and your council for the latest information and consult a qualified professional where needed.
The rules and amounts in this article are current as of 29 October 2026; check GOV.UK and your local council for the latest official updates.
References
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero – What the Autumn Budget 2026 means for your energy bills (28 October 2026) / Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government – Council tax information letter 6/2026: Household Energy Payment 2027 (29 October 2026) / HM Treasury – Budget 2026 speech (28 October 2026) / GOV.UK – Warm Home Discount Scheme / GOV.UK – Check your Council Tax band / GOV.UK – How Council Tax works / GOV.UK – Find your local council / MyLondon – Will you get Labour’s £100 winter energy payment? Find out with our new map (28 October 2026)
