Child Winter Heating Assistance changes name to Child Winter Heating Payment

An annual payment to help disabled children and young people heat their homes is changing its name.

From this winter, Child Winter Heating Assistance, will now be named named Child Winter Heating Payment.

The name change reflects user testing carried out to support the launch of Winter Heating Payment with people who have lived experience of the benefits system. Ongoing engagement with our clients helps us to make sure that the name of our benefits are clear and concise and is understood easily by people who will get the payments.

The £235.70 Child Winter Heating Payment is automatically paid to families of children and young people up to the age of 19 who already get qualifying benefits.

These include the highest rate of the care component of Child Disability Payment or Disability Living Allowance for Children. Those receiving the enhanced rate of the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment, or the enhanced rate of the daily living component of Adult Disability Payment, also qualify.

People who get these benefits during the week of 18 - 24 September will receive a Child Winter Heating Payment. Families will get a letter to confirm they are entitled to the payment and money will be paid automatically into the same account as their qualifying benefits. They do not need to apply separately to get the payment. In certain circumstances an application may be required.

The payment is per child or young person, not per household and if more than one child or young person in a household is entitled, they will each get a payment.

Child Winter Heating Payment was first paid in winter 2020-2021 and was the first disability benefit introduced by the Scottish Government using its new social security powers.

For more information about Child Winter Heating Payment people can visit mygov.scot/childwinterheatingpayment