Social Security Scotland recently confirmed that over 37,000 disabled children and young people have received a one-off payment of £235.70 this winter to help cover the costs of higher energy bills during the colder months. The Child Winter Heating Payment is unique to Scotland and issued to youngsters under the age of 19 in receipt of the higher daily living component rate of Child Disability Payment, Adult Disability Payment (ADP), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (Child).
The Scottish Government has now confirmed the annual payment will rise by 1.7 per cent in the 2025/26 financial year to £255.80, an increase of £20.10. It’s important to be aware that all PIP claimants living in Scotland will transfer from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to Adult Disability Payment (ADP) this Spring, but as there are 80,000 existing claimants at time of writing, this information may be useful to them.
To be eligible for the payment, individuals need to have been in claim for one of the benefits mentioned above during the qualifying week, which will be the third week of September, 15th to 21st, 2025.
Other key points about the automatic payment:
- The £255.80 payment is per child or young person – not per household
- If there is more than one child or young person who qualifies in the household, they each get a payment
- If someone is awarded a backdated payment for one of the qualifying benefits which falls within the eligibility week in September, they will also receive the payment
- The money is paid into the same account where the qualifying benefit is paid into
Nobody on a qualifying benefit needs to apply separately to get the payment, however, in certain circumstances some people may need to apply – find out more about this here.
Eligibility for the winter 2025/26 payment
Children and young people in Scotland can get the heating payment if they are under 19-years-old and were claiming one of the qualifying benefits during the qualifying week of 15-21 September, 2025 (to be confirmed later this year).
Qualifying benefits for Child Winter Heating Payment
Young people under 19 getting one of the following benefits for at least one day during the September qualifying week will receive the £255.80 payment.
Qualifying benefits:
- Child Disability Payment – highest rate of the care component
- Disability Living Allowance for children – highest rate of the care component
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – enhanced daily living component. Just be aware nobody in Scotland should still be on PIP after this Spring and is included here for existing clamant information only
- Adult Disability Payment – enhanced rate of the daily living component
Scottish Government guidance also clarifies people do not not need to show receipts or proof of how they spent the money.
If a child or young person gets a qualifying benefit but does not live in Scotland between September 15 and September 21, 2025, they might still qualify if they:
- live in certain European Economic Area (EEA) countries or Switzerland
- can show they have a genuine and sufficient link to Scotland
Find out what to do if the child no longer lives in Scotland here.
When will payments be made?
Social Security Scotland delivers the benefit and automatic payments usually start landing in bank accounts from the end of October, however, these are issued in batches and will continue until February 2026.
How do I apply?
Payments will be made to most people automatically, so there’s no need to apply. It will be made to the same account where people receive their DLA for Children, Child Disability Payment, ADP or PIP (which is se to end this Spring).
For more information, contact Social Security Scotland through web chat on the website here or call the freephone helpline on 0800 182 2222 between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.