Start of Child Winter Heating Payment helps families with energy bills

An annual payment to help disabled children and young people heat their homes is on its way to around 29,000 people.

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

These include the highest rate of the care component of Child Disability Payment or Disability Living Allowance for Children. People getting 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 got these benefits during the week of 18 - 24 September will get a Child Winter Heating Payment. The vast majority of people do not need to apply for this benefit as the payment is made automatically by Social Security Scotland.

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

Families will get a letter to confirm they are entitled to the payment and money will be paid into the same account as their qualifying benefits. If someone thinks they are eligible but have not received a letter they should contact Social Security Scotland.

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