If your parent lives in a council tax band A to D home in England and is responsible for the council tax, they are likely to get the £100 energy payment from January 2027. If they pay by direct debit it should arrive automatically, and if not, the council will invite them to apply.
To talk anything through with someone local, our Hemel Hempstead team is on 01442 954 137.
What is the £100 energy payment?
The government announced it in the Autumn Budget, and set out the details on GOV.UK on 28 October 2026. It is a £100 payment towards energy costs for households in council tax bands A to D in England. GOV.UK says up to 20 million households will be eligible.
It is a separate payment from the Winter Fuel Payment. Our guide to the Winter Fuel Payment in Hertfordshire covers that one.
Who qualifies for the £100 energy payment?
From what GOV.UK has published so far, a household qualifies if it:
- is in England
- is liable for council tax on the property
- lives there as its main home
- is in band A, B, C or D
GOV.UK also says this will include most households that are exempt from council tax. Second homes and empty properties are not eligible.
The full eligibility rules have not been published yet. So, for now, it is wise to treat anything more detailed as unconfirmed, wherever you read it.
How do I know which band my parent is in?
The band is printed on the annual council tax bill. If your parent keeps their post in a drawer or folder, that bill is worth finding now. It will also show whether they pay by direct debit.
Does my parent need to do anything?
That depends on how they pay their council tax.
- By direct debit: GOV.UK says they do not need to do anything. The payment goes straight into their bank account.
- Any other way: the council will invite them to apply directly.
If your parent pays another way, the important thing is to watch for the council's letter and respond to it. If post tends to pile up, our article on helping a parent who is struggling with bills and letters may help.
When will it be paid?
GOV.UK says payments will be made from January 2027. It has not given dates for individual councils, so local timings may differ.
In Hemel Hempstead, council tax is run by Dacorum Borough Council. When we checked on 8 November 2026, its council tax page did not yet carry details. Elsewhere in Hertfordshire, Broxbourne Borough Council has already posted a notice that matches the GOV.UK summary.
What if my parent's home is in band E or above?
Households outside bands A to D will not get the standard £100. However, GOV.UK says the government is giving councils an extra £100 million for discretionary support. Each council will set its own rules for that fund and publish them on its website once they are in place.
Separately, GOV.UK describes a one off Debt Relief Scheme for some households in energy debt, including some pensioners. Ofgem is due to consult on how it will work. Again, details are still to come.
How do we avoid scams about the payment?
This is where families can help most. GOV.UK is clear that nobody other than the council should get in touch asking someone to claim it. Broxbourne Borough Council has repeated the same warning to its residents.
In practice, that means:
- A call, text or email from anyone other than the council asking for bank details to "release" the £100 should be treated with suspicion.
- GOV.UK says direct debit payers need do nothing, so a request for them to apply is a warning sign.
- If a letter claims to be from the council, check it against the phone number on a previous council tax bill, not the one on the letter.
It may help to agree a simple family rule now: nobody gives details to anyone about this payment without checking with a son, daughter or trusted friend first. Our guide to scam calls and older people has more on talking this through without causing worry.
How can help at home make this easier?
For many older people, the hard part is not the rules. It is spotting the right letter among the leaflets, and remembering to reply. A carer who visits regularly can help sort the post, set aside anything from the council, and remind your parent to show it to family. Our guide to what happens in a home care visit explains how small tasks like this fit in.
The decisions stay with your parent and the family. A carer's part is to prompt and support, so that nothing important gets lost in the pile.
Frequently asked questions
Is the £100 energy payment means tested?
GOV.UK does not describe a means test. Instead, eligibility rests on the council tax band, being liable for council tax and living there as a main home. The full rules are still to come, so it is worth checking the final version.
My parent gets a council tax discount. Do they still qualify?
GOV.UK says most households exempt from council tax will be included. It has not yet set out how every discount or exemption will be treated. The full criteria should answer this.
Does it apply in Scotland or Wales?
No. GOV.UK says this scheme is for England only. The governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland receive extra funding and decide how to use it themselves.
Rules like these tend to land on the kitchen table as one more letter. Starling Homecare is a family run, CQC registered provider, and in Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted and Tring we help older people keep on top of daily life at home. Our pages on later life care and domestic support and housekeeping explain the everyday help available. Our Hemel Hempstead home care team can talk through what might help your parent this winter.
Figures and guidance checked on 8 November 2026 against GOV.UK's guide to the Autumn Budget energy support and Broxbourne Borough Council's notice.
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