The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is urging households to check eligibility for additional financial support available between now and the end of March. It’s important for people in Scotland to be aware that Cold Weather Payments (£25) are no longer issued north of the border and have been replaced by the one-off Winter Heating Payment – worth £58.75 – which will be issued to an estimated 400,000 households from mid-December.
Other support available includes the £150 Warm Home Discount Scheme, which is paid directly to the energy supplier, Winter Fuel Payments of up to £300 for people over State Pension age in receipt of a means-tested benefit such as Pension Credit, Tax Credits (with an annual award of at least £26) or Universal Credit (for mixed age couples). Scots families of young people (under-19) on disability benefits have already started receiving this year’s Child Winter Heating Payment, which is worth £251.50.
Minister for Pensions Emma Reynolds said: “As we head into the winter months, I want to ensure the most vulnerable in our society are getting the support they need, and that’s why we have a range of measures targeted at helping low-income households, such as Cold Weather Payments and the Warm Homes Discount.
“With the dire state of the public finances, we have had to make some tough choices, including means-testing the Winter Fuel Payment so that it goes to those most in need. And while these choices were not made lightly, this Government is doing everything it can to ensure maximum take-up of Pension Credit while also continuing to support pensioners through our commitment to the Triple Lock which will mean an increase in the full state pension of up to £1,700 over the next 5 years.”
The Household Support Fund is also available to people in England and Wales struggling to heat their homes this winter, with the Scottish Government receiving £41 million to provide similar support to all local councils.
Anyone struggling to heat their homes or afford other essential items over the colder months should contact their local council to see what support may be available to them.
Eligible pensioners can also receive up to £300 for the Winter Fuel Payment which is set to land in bank accounts over the next two months. DWP continues to urge anyone who thinks they may be entitled to Pension Credit to check now using the online calculator on GOV.UK here.
This income-related benefit could be worth up to £3,900 a year on average and open the doors to other benefits including help with housing costs, Council Tax Reduction as well as a Winter Fuel Payment. New claims for Pension Credit made before December 21, 2025 which later turn out to be successful, will also be entitled to a backdated Winter Fuel Payment – find out more here.
DWP said: “Winter support is part of the government’s wider drive to support vulnerable households with the cost of living, as we continue our work to fix the foundations of the economy.”
Winter Fuel Payment, £100-£300
The Scottish Government has also adopted the eligibility rule change for its new replacement benefit for Winter Fuel Payments – Pension Age Winter Heating Payment. However, DWP will issue payments to more than 125,000 Scots pensioners this winter before administration and delivery is transferred to Social Security Scotland for winter 2025/26. Scots pensioners will receive a letter this month.
Most payments are made automatically in November or December, letters will be sent to all Scots pensioners this month with details of the exact amount they will receive and whether someone is eligible for a payment.
The one-off payment is worth between £100 and £300, however, how much someone receives depends on their age and household circumstances. It’s important to be aware that the £300 will only be paid to those born before September 23, 1944.
People in a care home receive £100 and those aged between 66 and 79 receive £200.
Full details on payments can be found here.
Child Winter Heating Payment – £251.50
Social Security Scotland has confirmed that payments started landing in bank accounts in October and will continue this month. Letters are being sent out to eligible families.
The Child Winter Heating Payment is for disabled children and young people under the age of 19, in Scotland only.
The devolved payment is designed to help families with disabled youngsters with higher costs during the colder months. The £251.50 lump sum is automatically paid to families of children and young people up to the age of 19 who already get certain levels of qualifying disability benefits.
These include the highest rate of the care component of Child Disability Payment or Disability Living Allowance for Children. The lump sum is also paid to those receiving the enhanced rate of the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), or the enhanced rate of the daily living component of Adult Disability Payment (ADP).
To be eligible for the payment, individual’s need to be in claim for one of the benefits mentioned above during the qualifying week, which was September 16-22, 2024.
Full details on payments can be found here.
Winter Heating Payment – £58.75
Social Security Scotland has confirmed that payments will start from mid-December with the majority of eligible households receiving 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.
This payment is only available to those on an income-related benefit living in Scotland and replaced the £25 Cold Weather Payment delivered by the 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.
Qualifying benefits include:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support for Mortgage Interest
The majority of people eligible for the Winter Heating Payment during the qualifying period, which is this week – November 4-10 – will receive the payment automatically, with no need to apply.
Full details on payments can be found here.
Warm Home Discount – £150 paid directly to energy supplier
DWP administers this payment which is paid directly to energy suppliers and added as credit to a customer’s account. It is not a cash payment.
If you’re a credit customer the £150 will be added to your electricity account and if you’re on Pay As You Go or Prepayment, you’ll be sent a voucher that you can use to top-up your meter.
The Warm Home Discount Scheme is designed to help people on a low income and on certain income-related benefits such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit.
This year’s scheme is already open. To find out if your energy supplier is accepting new claims, visit their website.
Full details about the scheme and eligibility can be found here.