The Scottish Government has announced that the annual payment to help disabled children and young people heat their homes during the colder months is on its way to thousands of families across the country. The Child Winter Heating Assistance payment is automatically paid to families of eligible children and young people, there’s no need to claim.
The money is paid once a year and the Scottish Government has confirmed that the payment for winter 2022/23 will be £214.10 per eligible child or young person. This year around 24,600 children are expected to be entitled to the payment.
Social Security Scotland said that payments started landing in bank accounts at the end of October and will continue to be delivered over the coming weeks. Families will get a letter to confirm they are entitled to the payment, but are advised that due to industrial action in the postal service, some households may receive payments into their bank accounts before they receive the letter.
Children and young people in Scotland will get the heating assistance payment if they are under 19-years-old and were claiming one of the qualifying benefits during the qualifying week of 19-25 September.
Just a remember, nobody needs to apply for the additional support, it will be paid automatically.
Qualifying benefits for the £214 payment
Young people under-19 getting one of the following benefits for at least one day during the September qualifying week will receive the payment.
Qualifying benefits:
- Child Disability Payment - highest rate of the care component
- Disability Living Allowance for children - highest rate of the care component
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) - enhanced daily living component
- Adult Disability Payment - enhanced rate of the daily living component
Scottish Government guidance states: “If there is more than one child or young person who qualifies in the household, they each get a payment.”
It also clarifies that people do not not need to show receipts or proof of how they spent the money.
If a child or young person gets a qualifying benefit but did not live in Scotland between September 19 and September 25, 2022, they might still qualify if they:
- live in certain European Economic Area (EEA) countries or Switzerland
- can show they have a genuine and sufficient link to Scotland
Find out what to do if the child no longer lives in Scotland here.
When will I receive the payment?
Payments began in the last week of October and will continue over the coming weeks of November.
You will receive a letter confirming the payment is on the way.
For more information, contact Social Security Scotland through web chat on the website here or call the freephone helpline on 0800 182 2222 between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.
To keep up to date with the latest benefits news, join our Money Saving Scotland Facebook page here, or subscribe to our newsletter which goes out four times each week - sign up here.
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