Energy
£100 Energy Payment Announced in Autumn Budget 2026: Who Qualifies and Should You Switch Tariffs?
The Autumn Budget 2026 announced a £100 Household Energy Payment for households in Council Tax bands A to D in England, paid from January 2027. Who qualifies, who is excluded, how the payment reaches you, and whether the announcement is a reason to review your energy tariff.
What is the £100 Household Energy Payment?
On 28 October 2026, the Chancellor announced a £100 payment to help households with energy costs as part of the Autumn Budget. The scheme is expected to reach up to 20 million households at a total cost of around £2.6 billion. The payment is not means-tested: the qualifying condition is the Council Tax band of your property, not your income, savings or benefit status.
Who qualifies?
You qualify if, on the scheme's qualifying date, you are liable for council tax on a property in Council Tax bands A to D in England, and that property is your main home. The government will confirm the exact qualifying date before January.
- Bands A to D: These are the qualifying bands — roughly the lower two-thirds of the council tax scale. Bands E to H are excluded from the main payment (see below).
- Main home only: The property must be your primary residence.
- Council tax liability: You must be the person named as responsible for paying the council tax bill for that property.
- England only (main scheme): Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland receive a funding share through the Barnett formula to provide their own support arrangements, to be announced separately by each devolved government.
Who is not eligible?
Council Tax bands E to H
Properties in bands E, F, G or H in England do not qualify for the main £100 payment. The government has announced an additional £100 million for local authorities to provide discretionary support to some households in these bands; councils set their own criteria for that fund.
Second homes and empty properties
The payment applies to main residences only. A property that is a second home or is empty is not eligible, even if it falls in bands A to D.
Not liable for council tax
If you live in a property but are not the person named on the council tax bill — for example a full-time student, or someone living in a property where the landlord pays council tax — you are not eligible for the payment directly.
Devolved nations (main scheme)
The £100 English scheme does not automatically apply in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Each devolved government will decide on its own support using its Barnett formula share.
What if you rent?
Whether you qualify as a tenant depends on who is liable for the council tax. In most private rentals the tenant pays the council tax and would qualify if the property is bands A to D and is your main home. In Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and some short lets the landlord pays the council tax, so the payment would go to the landlord rather than the tenant. If you are unsure, check your tenancy agreement or your council tax bill: your name on the bill means you are liable.
How to check your Council Tax band
- Check your council tax bill — the band is printed on it every year.
- For England and Wales, search the Valuation Office Agency at gov.uk/council-tax-bands by your address.
- For Scotland, check the Scottish Assessors Association at saa.gov.uk.
When will it be paid, and how?
If you pay by direct debit
Your council should make the payment automatically, directly to the account your council tax direct debit comes from. You should not need to do anything.
If you pay another way
If you pay your council tax by another method — cash, cheque or standing order — your council will write to you from January 2027 to invite you to apply. Watch for a letter or email from your local council.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
The £100 Household Energy Payment is an England-only scheme. Each devolved government receives a share of the funding through the Barnett formula and will decide how to use it for similar energy support. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will each publish their own details.
Does this mean you should not review your energy tariff?
The payment is a one-off measure. It does not change your tariff, your unit rates or your standing charges. Whether your current energy deal is competitive depends on your address, usage and what is available from other suppliers — none of which the payment changes. January is actually a natural moment to check: payments arrive then, January bills arrive then, and many fixed tariffs end in winter.
On a fixed tariff?
Your rates are locked until the fix ends. If the end date is approaching, now is when to check what you move on to and whether a new deal compares well. When a fixed tariff ends covers the steps in the last 49 days.
Read the guideOn a variable tariff?
Your rates follow Ofgem's price cap, which changes every quarter. A fixed tariff may cost more or less than where the cap moves next — that comparison is worth checking each quarter, regardless of the Budget announcement.
Wisemium reads your current tariff and end date from your bill, and shows you the energy comparison when you want it. No account is needed to compare.
Questions about the £100 energy payment
When will I receive the £100 energy payment?
Payments are due to start from January 2027. The exact date within January has not been confirmed. Households paying by direct debit should receive it automatically; others will be invited to apply by their local council.
Do I need to apply for the £100 energy payment?
Most households paying council tax by direct debit should receive the payment automatically. If you pay by another method, your local council will write to you from January 2027 with details of how to claim.
Is the £100 payment taxable?
Full scheme rules had not been published at the time this guide was written. Equivalent previous energy support payments were not treated as taxable income; the government is expected to confirm the position before January 2027.
I am in Council Tax band E or higher — is there any help?
An additional £100 million is available for local authorities to provide discretionary support to households in bands E to H. Councils set their own criteria. Contact your local council in January to ask about any discretionary support available to you.
My landlord pays the council tax — do I receive the payment?
If your landlord is liable for the council tax, the payment would go to your landlord, not to you. This is common in HMOs and some short lets. If you pay the council tax yourself and are named on the bill, you are the eligible person.
I rent privately — how do I check my Council Tax band?
Your council tax band is on the council tax bill for your address. You can also check the Valuation Office Agency at gov.uk/council-tax-bands for properties in England.
Should I switch energy supplier because of the Budget?
The £100 payment is separate from your tariff. Whether your current deal is competitive depends on your usage, address and what is available — none of which the payment changes. If your fixed tariff is ending soon, or you have not checked your rates recently, comparing is worth your time.