The one-off discount scheme for electricity bills is paid to participating suppliers between September and March to eligible people.

In order to qualify, you need to be in receipt of pension credit or be on a low income.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said it cross-checked its customer records with 50 participating energy suppliers, and revealed that 95% of pensioners will get the discount automatically.

The savings total £137m and most pensioners will receive the discount between now and January, DWP added.

It said a further 220,000 pensioners who meet part of the eligibility criteria but are not yet benefiting will receive a letter encouraging them to claim via a dedicated helpline.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Thérèse Coffey, said: “This government has actively helped pensioners on low incomes with their energy bills. We know how important it is that people keep their homes warm during the cold winter months, which is why I am thrilled that we have used our IT to ensure nearly one million pensioners automatically see their bills reduced.”

The Warm Home Discount Scheme will be extended until at least March 2022, reducing the pressures on low income and vulnerable customers worried about being able to pay their energy bills.

If you think you may be eligible, visit the Pension Credit section of the government website or the Warm Home Discount scheme page for more information.

Related: See YourMoney.com’s Warm Home Discount and Winter Fuel Payments guide for further details.