By Linda Howard
Copyright dailyrecord
Nearly half a million households across Scotland will start receiving a one-off payment of £59.75 in December to help cover the costs of higher energy bills over the winter months. A total of 465,510 Winter Heating Payments – worth £27.3 million – were issued by the Scottish Government last year. The Winter Heating Payment is only available in Scotland and has replaced the £25 Cold Weather Payment delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Unlike the DWP benefit, it is not dependent on a sustained period of cold weather in a specific location (seven days) but is an annual, one-off payment made no matter the temperature. The devolved benefit is issued automatically by Social Security Scotland to people who get certain low-income benefits, including households with young children, disabled people or older people. Guidance on MYGOV.SCOT explains that you will “automatically get the single payment between December and February”. You will also receive a letter or an email from Social Security Scotland telling you it’s coming. It appears as ‘WHP’ (Winter Heating Payment) on your bank statement. If you have already qualified for another benefit you will automatically get Winter Heating Payment. Qualifying week The qualifying week for this year’s payment has not been confirmed yet, but is expected to be the first full week in November (like last year). This would be November 3 to 9. The information Social Security Scotland holds on you determines if you get one or more of the qualifying benefits at some point during this week. A full guide to the qualifying benefits can be found on MYGOV.SCOT . You will qualify if you’re employed or self-employed and get a child or young person disability element. You will also qualify if you are not employed or self-employed and you have either: No requirements other than you qualify for Pension Credit. You will qualify if you have a child under 5 or you get: You will qualify if: or you get: You will qualify if you have a child under 5 or you get: Energy bills are set to rise on October 1, and though it’s just a small rise of two per cent, 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. Below is a breakdown of other 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 of Monday September 15 to Sunday September 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: Nobody needs to claim either of these payments or be in receipt of Pension Credit. 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) in Scotland.
