Latest news with #PensionAgeWinterHeatingPayments
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Social Security Scotland issues new warning to people due one-off payments this winter
Thousands of people in Scotland are due financial help with heating bills 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 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.
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Parents, pensioners and disabled people due up to £305 in extra payments this year
More than half a million children and families in Scotland received cash help for heating bills last year. 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 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. Benefits and payments only available in Scotland Below is everything you need to know about devolved benefits and payments with direct links to the dedicated pages on the Social Security Scotland website here. Winter Heating Payment - £59.75 annual payment This annual payment replaced the Cold Weather Payment delivered by DWP in 2023 and will be worth £59.75 during winter 2025/26. It is designed to help people on a low income or benefits who might have extra heating needs during the winter - find out more here. Child Winter Heating Payment - £255.80 annual payment 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. This payment provides support for people on Disability Living Allowance for Children, Child or Adult Disability Payment and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) - find out more here. Just remember, Adult Disability Payment will fully replace PIP by the end of this year so it's included here as there are still people in receipt of the DWP benefits and intended as information only. Pension Age Winter Heating Payment - between £101.70 and £305.10 annual payment Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will help people of State Pension age with higher energy bills during the colder months. It replaces Winter Fuel payments for pensioners with a Scottish postcode. A full overview of the eligibility criteria and payment structure can be found on here. Payments to be issued from November: People aged over 66 living in residential care will receive £101.70 (visit 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) Scottish Child Payment - £27.15 weekly payment This is a payment of £27.15 per week, per child - some £108.60 every four week pay period. It can help towards the costs of looking after a child under 16 for families who get certain benefits - find out more here. Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment (first child) - £767.50 This is a one-off payment of up to £767.50 from 24 weeks in pregnancy up until a baby turns six months for families who get certain benefits - find out more here. Best Start Grant - Pregnancy and Baby Payment - £383.75 The Subsequent Child Payment and Multiple Pregnancy Supplement payment will be worth £383.75 in 2025.26 - find out more here. Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment - £319.80 This is a one-off payment of £319.80 when a child is between two and three years and six months for families who get certain benefits - find out more here. Best Start Grant School Age Payment - £319.80 This is a one-off payment of £319.80 when a child would normally start primary one for families who get certain benefits - find out more here. Best Start Foods This is a pre-paid card from pregnancy up to when a child turns three for families on certain benefits to help buy healthy food - find out more here. The 2025/26 weekly payment rates are: Higher rate - £10.80 Lower rate - £5.40 Funeral Support Payment This is money towards the costs of a funeral at a difficult time like this for people on certain benefits who are responsible for paying for a funeral. The current average payout is £1,800 - find out more here. Payment rates: Standard rate: £1,279.15 Lower rate: £156.10 Medical device removal rate: £25.80 Job Start Payment This is a one-off payment for 16 to 24 year olds who have been on certain benefits for six months or more to help with the costs of starting a job - find out more here. Payment rates: Higher rate: £511.65 Standard rate: £319.80 Child Disability Payment - up to £749 every four weeks This is extra money - up to the value of £749 every four weeks - to help with the costs of caring for a child with a disability or ill-health condition. It replaces Disability Living Allowance for children in Scotland that was previously delivered by the DWP - find out more here. Weekly payment rates Daily living Lower care award: £29.20 Standard: £73.90 Enhanced: £110.40 Mobility Standard: £29.20 Enhanced: £77.05 Adult Disability Payment - up to £749 every four weeks This is extra money - worth between £116.80 and £749.80 every four weeks - to help people who have a long-term illness or a disability that affects their everyday life. It replaces Personal Independence Payment people in Scotland previously delivered by the DWP - find out more here. Weekly payment rates Daily living Standard: £73.90 Enhanced: £110.40 Mobility Standard: £29.20 Enhanced: £77.05 Pension Age Disability Payment - up to £441 every four weeks Pension Age Disability Payment has replaced all new claims for Attendance Allowance in Scotland. It will replace Attendance Allowance for existing claimants by the end of 2025. People living in Scotland-only will receive either £73.90 or £110.40 each week - the same rate as Attendance Allowance. it will be paid every four weeks - £295.60, or £441.60 per pay period. Pension Age Disability Payment will support older people who have a disability that means they need assistance with looking after themselves, or supervision to keep them safe. Find out more about the new payment here. Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance - up to £749 every four weeks This is a closed benefit, which means nobody can apply for it and is only for pensioners on Disability Living Allowance transferring from the DWP - find out more here. Weekly payment rates Daily living Lower care award: £29.20 Standard: £73.90 Enhanced: £110.40 Mobility Standard: £29.20 Enhanced: £77.05 Young Carer Grant - £390.25 annual payment This is an annual payment of £390.25 for people 16, 17 or 18 who care for people who get a disability benefit from the DWP for an average of 16 hours a week or more - find out more here. Carer's Allowance Supplement - £293.50 paid twice a year This is an automatic payment of £293.50 made twice a year to people who get Carer's Allowance through the DWP on certain dates each year. The first payment of 2025 was issued to over 90,000 carers in June and the next one is due in December. To be eligible for the payment you need to be in claim on October 13 - find out more here. Carer Support Payment - £83.30 weekly payment Carer Support Payment is replacing Carer's Allowance for new and existing claimants in Scotland and is worth £83.30 each week, some £333.20 every four week pay period. Full details about the new benefit can be found here.
Daily Record
15-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Pensioners in Scotland to receive between £101 and £305 heating bill help before winter
The Scottish Government has confirmed the amounts, eligibility and qualifying period for Pension Age Winter Heating Payments. Pension Credit – Could you or someone you know be eligible? The Scottish Government has confirmed details of this year's Pension Age Winter Heating Payments (PAWHP) which are due to start landing in bank accounts from November. The devolved benefit has now replaced Winter Fuel Payments for all pensioners with a Scottish postcode and follows similar eligibility rules to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). However, Scots pensioners will see a slight increase in the amounts issued by Social Security Scotland as they increased in April as part of the annual uprating exercise. The payments of £101.70, £203.40 and £305.10 will be made automatically to pensioners born before September 21, 1959 with an income at or below £35,000. Similar to the Winter Fuel Payment policy, pensioners in Scotland will also be able to opt out receiving the payment. More information on how to do this will be available by Autumn 2025. The newly updated guidance on gives an overview of the benefit, eligibility, qualifying criteria and the payment rates. How much money you will receive is based on: your age the age of anyone you live with who is also eligible for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment if you receive certain benefits from DWP as a joint award The guidance adds: 'Most eligible people will be paid automatically. These payments will be made from November 2025. 'If your taxable income is over £35,000, His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will take back your Pension Age Winter Heating Payment through the tax system.' Remember, if your income is above £35,000 you will be able to opt out. Payment rates Full details on the payments will be published before the Autumn, but as a general guide: £101.70 - pensioners living in residential care £2003.40 - pensioners born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959 £305.10 - pensioners born before September 22, 1945 It had also stated that people aged between 66 and 79 on a qualifying means-tested benefit such as Pension Credit will receive £203. 40 and those aged 80 and over on a qualifying means-tested benefit will receive £305.10. Eligibility for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment Social Security Scotland will check your eligibility during the qualifying week of Monday, September 15 to Sunday, September 21, 2025. To be eligible, you must have: been born on, or before, September 21, 1959 lived in Scotland during the qualifying week You will not be eligible if you: were in hospital getting free treatment for the whole qualifying week and the 52 weeks leading up to it were in custody, under a sentence imposed by a court, for the whole qualifying week need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says you cannot claim public funds If you live in residential care Residential care means a care home or a hospital that is not part of the NHS. You will not be eligible for winter 2025 to 2026 if all the following apply to you: you were in residential care for the whole qualifying week, and you went into care before June 23, 2025, and during the qualifying week, you were in receipt of Pension Credit, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support, Universal Credit To be eligible, you still need to: be born on, or before, September 21, 1959 live in Scotland You can read the latest information on this year's Pension Age Winter Heating Payment on here.
Scotsman
24-06-2025
- General
- Scotsman
Scottish Government confirms Winter Heating Payments for pensioners
The Scottish government has confirmed that it will provide Pension Age Winter Heating Payments to pensioner households from 2025/26 onwards, providing a vital lifeline to older and disabled people facing rising energy costs. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Pensioners already receiving qualifying benefits such as Pension Credit will receive the payment. The Pension Age Winter Heating Payment is the Scottish Government's new scheme, which will replace the Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners from 2025/26. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This is different from the Winter Heating Payment, a separate benefit that replaced the Cold Weather Payment in Scotland and provides automatic support to low-income households during the winter months. Older lady looking out the window Amelia from the Bathing Mobility Advisory Service (BMAS) comments: 'The government's continuation of the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment highlights how vital this support is for older people, especially those with mobility issues or health conditions. 'Without this support, many older people may feel forced to stay at home in cold conditions, risking their physical and mental health. The emergence of warm hubs in libraries, churches, and community centres is a welcome step towards tackling social isolation. However, these hubs are no substitute for ensuring that older people can afford to heat their own homes. 'With the cost of living and energy prices rising, the payment provides more than just financial relief; it offers peace of mind, independence, and the ability to stay connected to their communities. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Older people are more likely to live alone and face mobility challenges, so maintaining warm, safe, and connected environments is vital. The Pension Age Winter Heating Payment should be seen as an essential lifeline for vulnerable groups not only to manage bills but to safeguard health and well-being during the colder months. 'The Pension Age Winter Heating Payment gives people a sense of independence and peace of mind during the bitter winter months when they may not venture out as much. Without this payment, some older people may just sit in a chair with a blanket without putting the heating on all day, which is truly shocking. Amelia from BMAS concludes, 'It is important that there is a joined-up approach to caring for our older population. The introduction of 'warm hubs' in libraries, churches and community-run coffee shops is a positive step forward in helping people feel connected within their communities and removing those barriers.' How to Apply for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment Support Automatic Payment for Benefit Recipients Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The good news is that the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment is sent out through an automatic payment alongside other payments such as the state pension and other benefits such as Pension Credit. Find Your Nearest Warm Hub 'If you or your loved one find yourself in a cold home this coming winter there are many small businesses and council-run initiatives in the community that offer support, and most importantly a warm place to recuperate and have a cup of tea. You can find a list of them on the Warm Hubs website and your local council website.
Daily Record
18-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Winter fuel payment update as SNP Government reveals which pensioners will lose out
Pensioners with an income of more than £35,000 will have the payment clawed back through the tax system. SNP Ministers will take back winter fuel payments from better off pensioners on more than £35,000 a year. The clawback mirrors the approach being pursued by the UK Government. The winter fuel payment policy has been in chaos after Chancellor Rachel Reeves initially withdrew between £200 and £300 from around ten million pensioners. She eventually u-turned and settled on a system where pensioners with an income of less £35,000 would receive their payment. With the policy devolved, SNP First Minister John Swinney said this week that no pensioner would be worse off than south of the border. His Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has now provided more details of the Pension Age Winter Heating Payments (PAWHP). Depending on age, pensioners with an income of less than £35,000 will receive either £203.40 or £305.10 per household, more than they would in England. This move will see over 720,000 Scots pensioners benefit, but the SNP Government will hold talks with Whitehall about recovering PAWHP from older people with incomes above the £35,000 threshold. Somerville said: 'The UK Government 's decision to cut the Winter Fuel Payment last winter was a betrayal of millions of pensioners, and their recent U-turn is welcome if belated. 'Following careful consideration of the options available, the Scottish Government will mirror the approach taken by the UK Government. We will bring forward regulations to ensure that, from this winter onwards, all pensioners will receive either £203.40 or £305.10 per household, depending on age. 'We are in discussion with the UK Government to extend the proposed arrangements in England and Wales to recover payments from those pensioners with an individual income of more than £35,000 through the tax system. The intention is that the payment will be recovered automatically, and pensioners will not need to register with HMRC for this or take any further action. 'This approach ensures a higher level of support which those most in need will receive. Over 720,000 Scottish pensioners are estimated to benefit from the higher payment.'
