New statistics from Social Security Scotland show that almost £20million was paid to nearly 400,000 people on low incomes across the country during February and March to help them with higher energy bills. In the first year of the new £50 Winter Heating Payment, a total of £19.7million was paid to 394,135 households, with the vast majority of eligible Scots receiving their payments automatically.
The devolved benefit is only available in Scotland and 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 but is an annual, one-off payment made no matter the temperature.
Social Security Scotland has confirmed that the payment will increase to £55.05 for winter 2023/24 and announced that this year’s qualifying week will be between November 6 and 12, 2023.
