More than 465,500 people in Scotland received Winter Heating Payments last year.
09:58, 06 Oct 2025
Nearly half a million households across Scotland will receive a one-off payment of £59.75 in December to help cover the costs of higher energy bills over the winter months. A total of 465,510 Winter Heating Payments – worth £27.3 million – were issued by the Scottish Government last year.
The Winter Heating Payment is only available in Scotland and has replaced the £25 Cold Weather Payment delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Unlike the DWP benefit, it is not dependent on a sustained period of cold weather in a specific location (seven days) but is an annual, one-off payment made no matter the temperature.
The devolved benefit is issued automatically by Social Security Scotland to people who get certain low-income benefits, including households with young children, disabled people or older people.
READ MORE: Winter heating payment deadline this week for people over State Pension ageREAD MORE: Full list of Winter Fuel Payment dates and amounts due for pensioners
Guidance on MYGOV.SCOT explains that you will “automatically get the single payment between December and February”.
You will also receive a letter or an email from Social Security Scotland telling you it’s coming. It appears as ‘WHP’ (Winter Heating Payment) on your bank statement.
How to qualify for £59.75 Winter Heating Payment
If you have already qualified for another benefit you will automatically get Winter Heating Payment.
Qualifying week
The qualifying week for this year’s payment has been confirmed as November 3 – 9, 2025. The information Social Security Scotland holds on you determines if you get one or more of the qualifying benefits at some point during this week.
Qualifying benefits
A full guide to the qualifying benefits can be found on MYGOV.SCOT.
Universal Credit
You will qualify if you’re employed or self-employed and get a child or young person disability element.
You will also qualify if you are not employed or self-employed and you have either:
- a limited capability for work element
- a limited capability for work element with a work related activity element
- a child or young person disability element
- a child under 5
Pension Credit
No requirements other than you qualify for Pension Credit.
Income Support or Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance
You will qualify if you have a child under 5 or you get:
- a disability premium
- a severe disability premium
- a pensioner premium
- the child disability premium
Income Related Employment Support Allowance
You will qualify if:
- you have a child under 5
- or you’re in a support group or a work related activity group
or you get:
- a severe or enhanced disability premium
- a pensioner premium
Support for Mortgage Interest
You will qualify if you have a child under 5 or you get:
- a disability premium
- a pensioner premium
- a child disability premium
Other energy help for Scots this winter
Energy bills increased on October 1 and though it’s just a small rise of two per cent, using more gas or electricity will result in a higher bill. However, cash help is on the way for low income households, pensioners and disabled people living in Scotland.
Below is a breakdown of other payments on the way for Scottish households, so check now to make sure you know what extra help may be on the way before winter.
Pension Age Winter Heating Payments
Pensioners in England and Wales will receive between £100 and £300 through Winter Fuel Payments, due to be issued by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) over November and December.
Social Security Scotland will issue Pension Age Winter Heating Payments using data provided by the DWP. Guidance on MYGOV.SCOT has now been updated with full details on the one-off annual payments.
Payments will be made automatically from November and how much someone receives depends on their age, household living circumstances and residency in the UK during the qualifying week, which ran from September 15 to 21, 2025.
To qualify for either Pension Age Winter Heating Payment or Winter Fuel Payment, people need to have been born before September 22, 1959 with an annual income of £35,000 or below.
Pensioners in residential care could get £101.70 while people aged between 66 and 79 could receive £203.40 while those aged 80 or over could be due £305.10.
A full overview of the eligibility criteria and payment structure can be found on MYGOV.SCOT.
Payments to be issued from November:
- People aged over 66 living in residential care will receive £101.70 (visit MYGOV.SCOT for full details)
- People aged between 66 and 79 will receive £203. 40 (lower rate)
- People aged 80 and over will receive £305.10 (higher rate)
Nobody needs to claim either of these payments or be in receipt of Pension Credit.
Child Winter Heating Payment
Child Winter Heating Payment was introduced by the Scottish Government in November 2020 and is only available in Scotland.
This is an annual payment to help families of youngsters up to the age of 19 on the highest rate care component of disability benefits and will be worth £255.80 in winter 2025/26. Payments will start landing in bank accounts from October 6 an will continue until the end of the month.
This payment provides support for people on Disability Living Allowance for Children, Child or Adult Disability Payment – find out more here.
It’s important to be aware that Adult Disability Payment has now replaced all new and existing claims for Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
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