Child Winter Heating Assistance payment is on its way

An annual payment to help disabled children and young people heat their homes is on its way to thousands of families across Scotland.

The £214.10 Child Winter Heating Assistance payment is automatically paid to families of children and young people under 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.

This year, around 24,600 children and young people are expected to be entitled to the payment, which is paid automatically into the same account as their qualifying benefits. They do not need to do anything to receive the payment.

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 receive a payment.

Payments started arriving in bank accounts last week and will continue to be delivered to those receiving qualifying benefits.

Families will get a letter to confirm they are entitled to the payment, however due to postal strikes, it is possible some households may receive the payment before they receive the letter.

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

People can contact Social Security Scotland through web chat at mygov.scot/contact-social-security-scotland/ or by calling the Freephone helpline on 0800 182 2222.