Thousands of families across Scotland with a disabled child or young person will receive a one-off payment later this year to help with energy bills. Child Winter Heating Assistance is paid automatically once a year to those in receipt of disability benefits and will increase by 10.1 per cent to £235.70 for winter 2023-2024.
The latest statistics from the Scottish Government show that more than 26,000 payments of £214.10 - worth £5.7million in total - were made to eligible youngsters in winter 2022/2023, to help heat their homes during the colder months. The majority of payments were made by the end of October.
In total, £13.4million in Child Winter Heating Assistance payments have been issued since the devolved benefit was introduced in November 2020. It is administered by Social Security Scotland and is available to disabled children and young people under the age of 19 who receive a qualifying benefit.
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “The cost of living crisis and higher energy bills mean that families are struggling more than ever. Getting this money to families who may need to heat their homes for longer than others over the winter months provides crucial financial support and eases financial pressure at a challenging time of year. Therefore it is welcome news that £5.7 million fit has been paid to eligible families for winter 2022/23.”
This payment is one of seven benefits only available in Scotland and is automatically paid to families of the most severely disabled children and young people. Ms Somerville also urged anyone struggling during the cost of living crisis to visit the Scottish Government’s Cost of Living website here for support and advice on help available.
Who is eligible for the winer 2023/24 payment?
Children and young people in Scotland can get the heating assistance payment if they are under 19-years-old and are claiming one of the qualifying benefits during the qualifying week of 198-24 September, 2023. Nobody needs to apply for the additional support, it will be paid automatically.
Qualifying benefits for the £235.70 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 does not live in Scotland between September 18 and September 24, 2023, 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 payments be made?
Social Security Scotland delivers the benefit and has not yet confirmed when payments will be made this year. Last year’s payments started landing in accounts from the end of October.
Families will receive a letter of confirmation to coincide with the payment being made.
How do I apply?
Payments will be made automatically, so there’s no need to apply. It will be made to the same account where people receive their DLA for Children, Child Disability Payment, PIP or Adult Disability Payment.
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 devolved benefits news, join our Money Saving Scotland Facebook page here, follow us on Twitter @Record_Money, or subscribe to our newsletter which goes out Monday to Friday - sign up here.
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