Cold Weather Payments are set to be replaced this winter for people living in Scotland. The Scottish Government will introduce a new heating benefit from February 2023 that will give around 400,000 households on a low income a guaranteed £50 payment towards their energy bills.
The current benefit, delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) triggers a £25 payment only when temperatures are recorded or forecast at below zero degrees Celsius for seven days in-a-row in their local area between November 1 and March 31. The new Winter Heating Payment will be administered by Social Security Scotland and will provide a £50 payment every year.
Last year there were 854,000 payments made to Cold Weather Payment recipients in Scotland totalling more than £21 million. The Scottish Government said that the new £50 payment will not affect any other benefits households are currently getting from DWP, including the Winter Fuel Payment, which includes a £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment this year.
