Social Security Scotland has confirmed that by December 15 over 218,000 eligible households had received a payment of £58.75 to help cover the costs of higher winter fuel bills. The annual Winter Heating Payment is only available in Scotland and replaced the £25 Cold Weather Payment delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) two years ago.
Unlike the DWP benefit, it is not dependent on a sustained period of cold weather in a specific location but is an annual, one-off payment made no matter the temperature. Around 457,000 households will receive the payment this winter, which means just under 240,000 people are due the payment – which is being issued in batches – before the end of February, 2025.
Social Security Scotland said: “People will get a letter from Social Security Scotland to let them know if they’re eligible for Winter Heating Payment. There is no need to apply as payments are made automatically.
“Most people will receive their payment by the end of February 2025.”
The total cost of payments made so far is £12.8 million. Full details about the payment can be found on the mygov.scot website here.
Below is an overview of the eligibility criteria for the payment and qualifying benefits.
Eligibility for £58.75 Winter Heating Payment 2024/25
Your eligibility for Winter Heating Payment is assessed by Social Security Scotland.
They look at:
- what benefits you are receiving
- your circumstances from November 4 to November 10, 2024 – the ‘qualifying week’
Qualifying benefits for £58.75 Winter Heating Payment
Households on these benefits will be eligible, if they are in receipt of the benefit during the qualifying week:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support for Mortgage Interest
Qualifying benefits and requirements
If you are on Universal Credit and not in employment
Guidance states that you will usually get the £55.05 Winter Heating Payment if you’re not employed or self-employed and also have one of the following:
- a limited capability for work element
- a limited capability for work element with a work related activity element
- a child or young person disability element
- a child under five-years-old
If you are on Universal Credit and in employment
You should get the £58.75 Winter Heating Payment if you’re employed or self-employed and get a child or young person disability element.
If you are on Pension Credit
If you were receiving payments through Pension Credit during the qualifying week (November 4-10), you should receive the £58.75 Winter Heating Payment.
If you are on income based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income Support
You should get the £58.75 Winter Heating Payment if you get Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income Support and have any of the following:
- a disability premium
- a severe disability premium
- a pensioner premium
- the disability element of Child Tax Credit
- a child under five-years-old
Or receive child disability premium within:
- Income Support
- Income Based Job Seeker’s Allowance
You should get the £58.75 Winter Heating Payment if you receive Income Related Employment Support Allowance and have any of the following:
- placed in a support group or a work related activity group
- a severe or enhanced disability premium
- a pensioner premium
- the disability element of Child Tax Credit
- a child under five-years-old
If you are getting support for Mortgage Interest
You should get the £58.75 Winter Heating Payment if you receive Support for Mortgage Interest and have any of the following:
- a disability premium
- a pensioner premium
- a child disability premium
-
the disability element of Child Tax Credit
- a child under five-years-old
When you will get the payment
Payments for winter 2024/25 started going out in batches earlier this month with the majority of eligible households due to receive the payment before the end of February 2025.
If you are eligible, you will receive a letter from Social Security Scotland before they make the payment.