Qualifying week to secure benefits to help pay for winter heating

Person drinking tea in a warm home.

We deliver different benefits to help people across Scotland with increased energy costs they may face over the winter, including Child Winter Heating Payment and Winter Heating Payment.

We are aware that there may be some confusion about qualifying weeks and payments dates for each payment following announcements to restrict the eligibility for Winter Fuel Payment, and equivalent Pension Age Winter Heating Payment in Scotland, which this year will be delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions to older people in Scotland.

Information about the benefits we deliver is available via MyGov.Scot. This year, we will administer Child Winter Heating Payment and Winter Heating Payment.

Benefits to support people with heating costs over the winter are paid automatically to those who are eligible during what is called a qualifying week. If people are getting certain qualifying benefits during that week, the majority will get a payment automatically without the need to apply.

People will get a letter to confirm they are entitled to the payment and it will be paid automatically into the same bank account as their qualifying benefits.

Benefit

Qualifying week

Value

Payment date

Child Winter Heating Payment

Paid to children under 19 getting a qualifying disability benefit

16-22 September 2024

£251.50

From October 2024

Winter Heating Payment

Paid to low-income households getting qualifying benefits

4-10 November 2024

£58.75

From December 2024

Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (paid by DWP, equivalent to Winter Fuel Payment)

Paid to people of state pension getting qualifying benefits

16-22 September 2024

£200-£300

To be confirmed

Help with heating bills for older people
Regulations laid in the Scottish Parliament will ensure pensioners receive help with their fuel bills this winter.

The DWP will make Pension Age Winter Heating Payments, which are equivalent to Winter Fuel Payments, on behalf of the Scottish Government to eligible older people getting qualifying benefits, including Pension Credit, in Scotland this year.

Pensioners are being urged to check their eligibility for Pension Credit in order to secure their payment this winter. Older people can still apply for Pension Credit and ask for it to be backdated by up to three months. If they apply by 21 December and have met the eligibility criteria for Pension Credit during the qualifying week, they will still qualify.

Further financial support to help with energy bills and housing costs

The Scottish Government and Local Authorities can provide extra support to help with energy costs.

For more information about Child Winter Heating Payment or Winter Heating Payment people can visit mygov.scot or call us for free on 0800 182 2222.

People should contact DWP and visit GOV.UK for information about Winter Fuel Payment or Pension Credit.

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