By Linda Howard

Copyright dailyrecord

October sees the start of shorter days and longer nights coupled with wetter weather and a drop in temperatures. It also means most households will be starting to think about putting the heating on, something we’ve all managed to forget about over the last few months. Energy bills increased on October 1, and although it’s just a small rise of two per cent (£5 over the year), using more gas or electricity will result in a higher bill. However, cash help is on the way for low income households, pensioners and disabled people living in Scotland. One-off lump sums of Winter Heating Payment (£59.75), Child Winter Heating Payment (£255.80) and Pension Age Winter Heating Payments (between £101 and £305) will be issued this year to eligible households to help with higher costs over the colder months. More than half a million families across Scotland enjoyed warmer homes last winter after receiving a total of £37.3 million towards their heating bills from Social Security Scotland. A total of 465,510 Winter Heating Payments, worth £27.3m, were made for 2024/2025, along with 39,590 Child Winter Heating Payments, worth £10m. Below is a breakdown of payments on the way for Scottish households, so check now to make sure you know what extra help may be on the way before winter. Pensioners in England and Wales will receive between £100 and £300 through Winter Fuel Payments, due to be issued by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) over November and December. Social Security Scotland will issue Pension Age Winter Heating Payments using data provided by the DWP. Guidance on MYGOV.SCOT has now been updated with full details on the one-off annual payments. Payments will be made automatically from November and how much someone receives depends on their age, household living circumstances and residency in the UK during the qualifying week last month (September 15 to 21, 2025). To qualify for either Pension Age Winter Heating Payment or Winter Fuel Payment, people need to have been born before September 22, 1959 with an annual income of £35,000 or below. Pensioners in residential care could get £101.70 while people aged between 66 and 79 could receive £203.40 while those aged 80 or over could be due £305.10. A full overview of the eligibility criteria and payment structure can be found on MYGOV.SCOT Payments to be issued from November: Pensioners with an income above the £35,000 threshold have until October 10 to opt out using the online form on MYGOV.SCOT. Winter Heating Payment is worth £59.75 this year and will be issued automatically to people who get certain low-income benefits, including households with young children, disabled people or older people. It has replaced the DWP’s Cold Weather Payment in Scotland. It is a guaranteed payment that everyone who is eligible receives, no matter what the weather – Cold Weather Payment is only paid if the average temperature falls – or is forecast to fall – to freezing or below for a full week. Child Winter Heating Payment was introduced by the Scottish Government in November 2020 and is only available in Scotland. This is an annual payment to help families of youngsters up to the age of 19 on the highest rate care component of disability benefits and will be worth £255.80 in winter 2025/26. This payment provides support for people on Disability Living Allowance for Children, Child or Adult Disability Payment – find out more here. It’s important to be aware that Adult Disability Payment has now replaced all new and existing claims for Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Below is everything you need to know about devolved benefits and payments with direct links to the dedicated pages on the Social Security Scotland website here. This is a payment of £27.15 per week, per child – some £108.60 every four week pay period. It can help towards the costs of looking after a child under 16 for families who get certain benefits – find out more here. This is a one-off payment of up to £767.50 from 24 weeks in pregnancy up until a baby turns six months for families who get certain benefits – find out more here . The Subsequent Child Payment and Multiple Pregnancy Supplement payment will be worth £383.75 in 2025.26 – find out more here . This is a one-off payment of £319.80 when a child is between two and three years and six months for families who get certain benefits – find out more here . This is a one-off payment of £319.80 when a child would normally start primary one for families who get certain benefits – find out more here . This is a pre-paid card from pregnancy up to when a child turns three for families on certain benefits to help buy healthy food – find out more here. The weekly payment rates are: This is money towards the costs of a funeral at a difficult time like this for people on certain benefits who are responsible for paying for a funeral. The current average payout is £1,800 – find out more here. Payment rates: This is a one-off payment for 16 to 24 year olds who have been on certain benefits for six months or more to help with the costs of starting a job – find out more here . Payment rates: This is extra money – up to the value of £749 every four weeks – to help with the costs of caring for a child with a disability or ill-health condition. It replaces Disability Living Allowance for children in Scotland that was previously delivered by the DWP – find out more here . Weekly payment rates Daily living Mobility This is extra money – worth between £116.80 and £749.80 every four weeks – to help people who have a long-term illness or a disability that affects their everyday life. It replaces Personal Independence Payment people in Scotland previously delivered by the DWP – find out more here. Weekly payment rates Daily living Mobility Pension Age Disability Payment has replaced all new claims for Attendance Allowance in Scotland. It will replace Attendance Allowance for existing claimants by the end of 2025. People living in Scotland-only will receive either £73.90 or £110.40 each week – the same rate as Attendance Allowance. it will be paid every four weeks – £295.60, or £441.60 per pay period. Pension Age Disability Payment will support older people who have a disability that means they need assistance with looking after themselves, or supervision to keep them safe. Find out more about the new payment here. This is a closed benefit, which means nobody can apply for it and is only for pensioners on Disability Living Allowance transferring from the DWP – find out more here. Weekly payment rates Daily living Mobility This is an annual payment of £390.25 for people 16, 17 or 18 who care for people who get a disability benefit from the DWP for an average of 16 hours a week or more – find out more here. This is an automatic payment of £293.50 made twice a year to people who get Carer’s Allowance through the DWP on certain dates each year. The first payment of 2025 was issued to over 90,000 carers in June and the next one is due in December. To be eligible for the payment you need to be in claim on October 13 – find out more here. Carer Support Payment is replacing Carer’s Allowance for new and existing claimants in Scotland and is worth £83.30 each week, some £333.20 every four week pay period. Full details about the new benefit can be found here.