People in Scotland have received more than £30 million via two
Scottish Government benefits to help them deal with increased
energy costs this winter, new statistics have shown.
Winter Heating Payment supports households on low incomes,
including older people, disabled people and families with
children under five.
Child Winter Heating Payment helps families of the most severely
disabled children and young people.
The official figures show more than 400,000 Winter Heating
Payments of £55.05 were issued between November last year and the
end of March. More than 30,000 Child Winter Heating Payments of
£235.70 were made in the same spell.
Winter Heating Payment replaced the UK Government's Cold Weather
Payment in 2023. Most people getting it receive more money on
average than via Cold Weather Payment.
People receive Winter Heating Payment whatever the weather,
unlike Cold Weather Payment when the temperature needs to drop to
a specific level.
Child Winter Payment, introduced in 2020, is not available
anywhere else in the UK. There is also no cap on the number of
children who can get it in the same family.
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shirley-Anne Somerville,
said:
“The £30.2 million paid over the course of winter provides
support to those who need it most. It is being paid quickly and
effectively to help mitigate the worst of the cost of living
crisis.
“Winter Heating Payment guarantees those who qualify will get a
payment every year – in contrast to the UK Government approach
which needs the weather to be under a certain temperature for a
sustained spell.
“Both Winter Heating Payment and Child Winter Heating Payment
have recently been increased in line with inflation which means
we will be getting more money into people's pockets in 2024/25. I
am pleased that we are getting the vast majority of these
payments to people in good time.
“I urge anyone who is struggling during the cost-of-living crisis
to visit the Scottish Government's Cost of Living website for
support and advice.”
Notes to editors
Full details of the official statistics are available to view at
<<Social Security Scotland -
Winter Heating Benefits: Statistics for Winter
2023/2024>>
The combined value of these payments was £30.2 million - £23
million in Winter Heating Payment and £7.2 million in Child
Winter Heating Payment.
More than 99% of Winter Heating Payments included in the
statistics had been issued by the end of February.
The statistics show that 98% of Child Winter Heating Payments
were made in November 2023, within weeks of qualification being
assessed.
To be eligible for Winter Heating Payment, people must be in
receipt of Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support,
Income based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Related Employment
Support Allowance or Support for Mortgage Interest during a
qualifying week. Additional criteria apply. Further information
on this can be found on
mygov.scot/winter-heating-payment
It is available to anyone who meets the relevant criteria each
year during the qualifying week. Next winter, this will be from 4
to 10 November. Most eligible people will receive this payment
automatically.
Both payments were increased in line with inflation at the
beginning of the new financial year. Next winter, Winter Heating
Payment will be £58.75 and Child Winter Heating Payment
£251.50.
