Getting Started news
54 stories on getting started, newest first. Every story is dated and cites its sources.
- November 2026
Chancellor announces plan to abolish gas standing charges
Chancellor John Healey has asked Ofgem to remove gas standing charges for around 23 million homes in 2027 or as soon as possible after, with fixed costs moved onto unit rates.
Pension Age Winter Heating Payment payments begin in Scotland
Social Security Scotland has confirmed the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will be issued automatically from November 2026 to around 1.4 million pensioners in Scotland, with amounts of between £105.55 and £316.70.
- October 2026
Warm Home Discount £150 payments to begin on Monday for around six million households
The Warm Home Discount takes £150 off energy bills once during winter, and around six million households now qualify, with payments beginning on Monday 2 November 2026.
Chancellor announces abolition of standing charges on household gas bills
Chancellor John Healey has said he will ask Ofgem to remove standing charges from household gas bills, a fixed fee of £108 a year for the typical household, in 2027 or as soon as possible after.
Government temporarily removed 5% VAT from electricity bills until March 31 next year
The government has cut VAT on electricity bills from 5% to zero for six months from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, worth around £45 a year, while gas stays at 5%.
Warm Home Discount helpline opens for winter 2026/27
The DWP has confirmed the Warm Home Discount helpline for winter 2026/27 opened on October 19, 2026, with a £150 discount on electricity bills for eligible low-income households.
Household Electricity Discount Scheme starts with £63 discount for around 860,000 NI households
Around 860,000 households in Northern Ireland will receive a £63 electricity discount from 6 October 2026, applied automatically by suppliers under the Household Electricity Discount Scheme.
0% VAT rate on domestic electricity bills begins for 6 months
VAT on domestic electricity bills falls from 5% to 0% for six months from 1 October 2026, a cut worth around £45 a year to a typical household, announced the day after Andy Burnham became Prime Minister.
- September 2026
Winter Fuel Payment replaced in Scotland by Pension Age Winter Heating Payment
The Winter Fuel Payment no longer applies in Scotland, where it has been replaced by the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, with rates of up to £316.70 for winter 2026/27.
- April 2026
Winter Heating Payment replaces Cold Weather Payment in Scotland
The Winter Heating Payment has replaced the Cold Weather Payment in Scotland, paying £62 automatically to people on qualifying benefits between December and February.
Carer Support Payment replaces Carer's Allowance in Scotland
Carer Support Payment has replaced Carer's Allowance in Scotland and is now available across the country, with three further payments for carers also in place.
Energy bills to be cut as government removes policy costs from electricity bills
The government has removed some policy costs from electricity bills from 1 April 2026, cutting unit rates and standing charges for households on variable and fixed tariffs in Great Britain.
Scottish income limit for free school meals takes effect from 1st April 2026
The household income limit for Universal Credit claimants applying for free school meals in Scotland rises to £11,940 a year, or £995 a month, from 1st April 2026.
- March 2026
Scottish social security up-rating regulations made
The Scottish Ministers have made two sets of regulations uprating Scottish social security payments, including Scottish child payment, disability and carer benefits, with most increases taking effect from 6 April 2026.
- December 2025
Winter heating payment to be paid in Scotland from December 2025
Scotland's winter heating payment, a one-off £59.75 for eligible households, is being paid from December 2025, with most payments completed by the end of February 2026.
- November 2025
Warm Home Discount scheme opens for 2025-26 winter
The Warm Home Discount scheme for winter 2025-26 is open, giving eligible households in England, Wales and Scotland a one-off £150 discount on their energy bill.
- June 2025
Scottish Child Payment recipients automatically assessed for Best Start Grant payments
People in Scotland who receive Scottish Child Payment are now automatically assessed for the Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment and School Age Payment, removing the need to submit a separate claim.
- April 2025
Carer's Allowance in Scotland being replaced by Carer Support Payment
Carer's Allowance is being replaced in Scotland by Carer Support Payment, a weekly payment of £86.45 for people caring at least 35 hours a week, with extra Scottish support paid alongside it.
Scottish assistance payment amounts increase from 1 April 2025
Scottish Ministers have uprated a range of devolved social security payments, with most new amounts taking effect from 1 April 2025 and some disability payments changing from 7 April 2025.
April price rises to increase emergency savings needs
Hargreaves Lansdown research reported by Which? calculates that households need up to £1,780 more in emergency savings to cover essential costs after April bill rises.
Carer Support Payment replaces Carer's Allowance in Scotland
Carer's Allowance has been replaced in Scotland by Carer Support Payment, with existing claimants moved across automatically and new claimants told to apply for the Scottish payment instead.
- March 2025
Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance first introduced in Scotland
Adults in Scotland receiving Disability Living Allowance had their awards moved automatically to a new Scottish Adult DLA from the end of March 2025, with no application and no change in payment amount.
Warm Home Discount rebates to be applied to bills by end of March 2025
Confirmed Warm Home Discount rebates of £150 for winter 2024/25 should be applied automatically to electricity bills in England, Wales and Scotland by the end of March 2025.
- November 2024
Carer Support Payment rolled out nationally
Carer Support Payment, Scotland's replacement for Carer's Allowance, became available across all 32 council areas on 4 November 2024 after a year of pilot rollouts.
Winter Heating Payment replaces Cold Weather Payment in Scotland
Scotland's Winter Heating Payment has replaced the DWP Cold Weather Payment, paying £58.75 automatically to people on qualifying low-income benefits, with payments expected each February.
- September 2024
2024 MIS report published with first full rebase of all household budgets in the same year
The Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University has published the 2024 Minimum Income Standard, rebasing budgets for every household type in the same year for the first time since 2008.
- August 2024
Essential expenditure section amended following Ofgem energy price cap announcement
The Accountant in Bankruptcy has amended section 6.8 of its Common Financial Tool guidance on essential expenditure after Ofgem's energy price cap announcement, changing the evidence threshold for gas and electricity spending.
- February 2024
Best Start Foods amendment regulations come into force in Scotland
Scottish regulations amending Best Start Foods came into force on 26 February 2024, setting the basic weekly rate at £4.95 and widening eligibility to partners, dependants and children under three.
- November 2023
Carer Support Payment first introduced in Scotland
Carer Support Payment replaced Carer's Allowance in Scotland, piloted from November 2023, rolled out fully from November 2024 and with case transfer completed in Autumn 2025.
- July 2023
Prepayment price premium removed
Households with prepayment meters have not been charged more for their energy than comparable direct debit customers since 1 July 2023, when a long-standing price premium on prepayment tariffs ended.