Social Security Scotland issues new warning to people due one-off payments this winter
What are phishing scams and how can you recognise them?
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recently urged people to be on the lookout for fraudulent texts and emails urging them to claim help from the 'energy support scheme' as it's a scam. Now Social Security Scotland has issued a similar warning to people due to receive one-off payments this winter.
Scotland's welfare body is urging households not to be tricked into handing over personal or financial information to callus crooks looking to exploit vulnerable people and those on a low income.
Social Security Scotland said: 'We want to reassure people that Child Winter Heating Payment, Winter Heating Payment and our new Pension Age Winter Heating Payment are automatic for almost everyone who is eligible.'
The guidance continued: 'Any emails, texts, letters or calls from us will always be about a recent application for a benefit or payment or about an automatic payment you have become eligible for.
We will never ask for personal or financial details by text or email or ask you to reply by text or email.'
If you think you have been the victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Police Scotland via 101.
Social security Scotland has also shared a list of tips to help people identify a potential scam on its website.
More than half a million families across Scotland enjoyed warmer homes last winter after receiving a total of £37.3 million towards their heating bills from Social Security Scotland.
Winter Heating Payment (£59.75), Child Winter Heating Payment (£255.80) and Pension Age Winter Heating Payments (between £101 and £305) will be issued again this year to eligible households to help with higher costs over the colder months.
A total of 465,510 Winter Heating Payments, worth £27.3m, were made for 2024/2025, along with 39,590 Child Winter Heating Payments, worth £10m.
Following the UK Government's U-turn on the Winter Fuel Payment eligibility policy, which will see around nine million pensioners in England and Wales receive between £100 and £300, the Scottish Government said it will also ensure Scots pensioners do not miss out.
Social Security Scotland will deliver Pension Age Winter Heating Payments using data provided by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and recently updated the dedicated pages on MYGOV.SCOT with information on payments for this winter.
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 of Monday September 15 to Sunday September 21, 2025.
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.
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 and below.
Nobody needs to claim either of these payments or be in receipt of Pension Credit, as per the previous eligibility rules.
Winter Heating Payment is paid automatically to people who get certain low-income benefits, including households with young children, disabled people or older people. It has replaced the DWP's Cold Weather Payment in Scotland.
It is a guaranteed payment that everyone who is eligible receives, no matter what the weather - Cold Weather Payment is only paid if the average temperature falls - or is forecast to fall - to freezing or below for a full week.
Child Winter Heating Payment was introduced by the Scottish Government in November 2020 and is only available in Scotland. It is paid once a year to children and young people if they are under 19-years-old and get certain benefits.
The figures, taken from statistics released on April 29 also show that 95 per cent of Winter Heating Payments were made by December 2024 and 93 per cent of Child Winter Heating Payments were made by October 2024.
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