A consultation launched by the Scottish Government for a new heating benefit that would give around 400,000 low-income households a guaranteed £50 payment every winter towards their energy bills has now closed.
The Low Income Winter Heating Assistance will be introduced from winter 2022 to replace the current UK Government Cold Weather Payment scheme.
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. The replacement Low Income Winter Heating Assistance benefit from the Scottish Government would provide a £50 payment, “no matter the weather”.
