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.
Social Security Scotland said that over the last seven years (2015/16 – 2021/22) the Cold Weather Payment supported, on average, just 185,000 people living north of the border each year, while the new Winter Heating Payment is expected to help an estimated 400,000 each year.
It added that due to the link with weather having to be sufficiently cold for a sustained period of time, many low-income households received no Cold Weather Payments.
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shirley-Anne Somerville, said: “The ongoing cost of living crisis and higher energy bills mean that people are struggling to heat their homes more than ever. Therefore, it is welcome news that £19.7 million was provided to almost 400,000 people on the lowest incomes.
“Making the decision to increase investment in this Scottish Government benefit, and to pay it to everyone eligible no matter the weather, means that more money has gone to more people than the previous DWP benefit. It is clear that getting this money into the pockets of people most in need has provided crucial financial support for energy bills at a challenging time of year.
“I urge anyone who is struggling during the cost of living crisis to visit the Scottish Government’s Cost of Living website for support and advice.”
Eligibility for £55 Winter Heating Payment 2023/24
Your eligibility for Winter Heating Payment is assessed by Social Security Scotland.
They look at:
- what benefits you are receiving
- your circumstances from November 6 to November 12, 2023 – this is known as the 'qualifying week'
Qualifying benefits for £50 Winter Heating Payment
Households on these benefits will be eligible, if they are in receipt of the benefit during the qualifying week:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support for Mortgage Interest
- Qualifying benefits and requirements
Full guidance is available on Scot.Gov here, below is a brief summary.
If you are on Universal Credit and not in employment
Guidance states that you will usually get the £55.05 Winter Heating Payment if you’re not employed or self-employed and also have one of the following:
- a limited capability for work element
- a limited capability for work element with a work related activity element
- a child or young person disability element
- the disability element of Child Tax Credit
- a child under five-years-old
If you are on Universal Credit and in employment
You should get the £55.05 Winter Heating Payment if you’re employed or self-employed and have one of the following:
- the child or young person disability element
- the disability element of Child Tax Credit
If you are on Pension Credit
If you are receiving payments through Pension Credit during the qualifying week (November 6-12), you should receive the £55.05 Winter Heating Payment.
If you are on income based Jobseeker's Allowance or Income Support
You should get the £55.05 Winter Heating Payment if you get Income based Jobseeker's Allowance or Income Support and have any of the following:
- a disability premium
- a severe disability premium
- a pensioner premium
- the disability element of Child Tax Credit
- a child under five-years-old
Or receive child disability premium within:
- Income Support
- Income Based Job Seeker's Allowance
- Income Related Employment Support Allowance
You should get the £55.05 Winter Heating Payment if you receive Income Related Employment Support Allowance and have any of the following:
- placed in a support group or a work related activity group
- a severe or enhanced disability premium
- a pensioner premium
- the disability element of Child Tax Credit
- a child under five-years-old
If you are getting support for Mortgage Interest
You should get the £55.05 Winter Heating Payment if you receive Support for Mortgage Interest and have any of the following:
- a disability premium
- a pensioner premium
- a child disability premium
- a child under five-yeas-old
When you will get the payment
Payments for winter 2022/23 were made during February and March and are expected to start arriving automatically from February 2024 - we will update this article once a payment period has been confirmed.
If you are eligible, you will receive a letter from Social Security Scotland before they make the payment.
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