By Linda Howard
Copyright dailyrecord
People over State Pension age could be due a series of extra payments and energy bill help during the coming months from the Scottish Government and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). There are four cash payments and one which is paid directly to energy suppliers, all worth up to £524.75 in additional support. It’s important to be aware that most of these payments will not be issued until November at the earliest, but could be something to factor in now when working out household budgets this Autumn – especially as energy bills typically increase significantly over the colder months due to higher usage. Pension Age Winter Fuel Payment has now replaced the Winter Fuel Payment for all Scots pensioners. Most pensioners over 66 will receive either £203.40 or £305.10 from the Scottish Government this winter – depending on their age and household living arrangements. More than 9 million pensioners in England and Wales will automatically receive this year’s Winter Fuel Payment following a U-turn by the UK Government on its decision to restrict the annual heating allowance to pensioners in receipt of a means-tested benefit such as Pension Credit. Payments of £200 for those aged between 66 and 79, or £300 for those aged 80 and over, will be issued automatically over November and December to pensioners born before September 22, 1959. Pensioners with an annual income of £35,000 or more will not be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment. Those above the threshold will need to pay the money back either through PAYE or a Self Assessment tax return. The deadline to opt-out was Monday, September 15. At least 880,000 pensioners in Scotland will receive Pension Age Winter Heating Payments. The income threshold rules also apply north of the border, however, Scots can choose to opt out of receiving the payment by completing the online form on the MyGov website by October 10, 2025. Financial help on the way before March 31, 2026 includes: Someone aged between 66 and 79, living in Scotland, could potentially receive £273.15 from the three cash payments before the end of March 2026. However, most of these will be issued before the end of this year. This is made up of: Someone over 80, living in Scotland, could potentially receive £374.86 from the three cash payments before the end of March 2026. When you factor in the £150 Warm Home Discount help, paid directly to energy suppliers, this amounts to £524.86 in extra support. This is made up of: Payments will be issued in mid-December. You may qualify for Winter Heating Payment automatically if you get one of these benefits: The qualifying week for this year’s payment will be November 3 – 9, 2025. Eligible people over State Pension age living in Scotland will automatically receive a one-off heating payment of up to £305.10 from November. To be eligible for the 2025 payment, you must have been born before September 22, 1959. During the qualifying week – September 15-21 – you must also: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that the 2025/26 Winter Fuel Payment will be issued to everyone born before September 22, 1959. Payments of £200 will be issued automatically to those aged between 66 and 79, while those aged 80 or over will receive £300. Nobody needs to claim the payment. Pensioners also need to have an annual income of under £35,000 to qualify for the payment this winter. Details of an option to opt out of the payments will be announced in due course. Full details on how much people will receive from DWP – depending on their household age and living arrangements can be found on GOV.UK here . The Warm Home Discount Scheme for winter 2025 to 2026 usually opens in October and will give people on certain benefits £150 off their electricity bill. It’s important to be aware some energy firms have opened this year’s scheme early – check your supplier’s website for more details. The money is paid directly by the DWP to energy suppliers between October and March. Eligible households may also be able to get the discount off their gas bill instead – if their supplier provides them with both gas and electricity, just contact them once the scheme opens to find out. 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. You can read more about the changes to eligibility on GOV.UK here. The bonus is a one-off, tax-free £10 payment made to people in receipt of State Pension or those claiming certain other benefits during the qualifying week – usually the first full week of December. Nobody needs to apply for the extra £10 as it should automatically go into the account where you usually receive your State Pension or benefit payment. It is made as a separate payment, independent of your scheduled State Pension or benefit payment, so it may arrive on a different day. Eligible benefits Find out more about the Christmas Bonus here.
