Mercedes Mullins
In Scotland, Winter Fuel Payment has been replaced by Pension Age Winter Heating Payments. For the winter of 2025/26, all pensioner households in Scotland will receive a Winter Fuel/Pension Age Winter Heating Payment. The payment amount depends on the recipient's age and circumstances and can be between £100 and £300.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Previous name | Winter Fuel Payment |
| New name | Pension Age Winter Heating Payment |
| Payment amount | £100, £200 or £300 |
| Payment date | December 2025 |
| Eligibility | All pensioner households |
| Qualifying benefits | Pension Credit |
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What You'll Learn
Pension Age Winter Heating Payment
The Winter Fuel Payment is now called Pension Age Winter Heating Payment. For winter 2025/26, all pensioner households in Scotland should qualify for this payment. The amount of the payment depends on your circumstances. If you do not receive pension credit or another qualifying benefit, the payment will be £100. If you receive pension credit or another qualifying benefit, the payment will be £200 or £300, depending on your age.
The Winter Fuel Payment was different in 2024 from previous years. Until 2024, all pensioners were eligible for the scheme. However, to get the payment in 2024, pensioners needed to receive pension credit or other specific benefits to qualify. This changed again in 2025, and now all pensioners are entitled to a payment.
From winter 2025/26 onwards, the Scottish Government intends to introduce a universal Pension Age Winter Heating Payment. From next winter, pensioners in Scotland in receipt of a relevant benefit will continue to receive payments of £200 or £300, depending on their age. Every other pensioner household will receive a payment of £100.
Winter Heating Payment (WHP) has replaced the UK Government’s Cold Weather Payment (CWP) in Scotland. It provides a stable, reliable, annual payment to people in receipt of certain benefits who might have extra heating needs during the winter.
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Cold Weather Payment
Winter Fuel Payment is no longer available to people living in Scotland. Instead, Scotland has a separate "Winter Heating Payment" scheme.
Eligible individuals in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland can receive Cold Weather Payments. This scheme is available to those receiving certain benefits, such as Pension Credit, Universal Credit (if neither the claimant nor their partner is employed or self-employed and they have a child under five living with them or have a health condition or disability that prevents them from working), or Support for Mortgage Interest. Cold Weather Payments are made automatically and are paid into the same account as the recipient's benefits.
The Cold Weather Payment scheme usually runs from 1 November to 31 March each year. Individuals can receive £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather during this time, where the average temperature is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below. To find out whether you are eligible for a Cold Weather Payment, you can use the government's postcode checker.
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Warm Home Discount
The Winter Fuel Payment, worth between £100 and £300, is no longer available to people living in Scotland. A new benefit, the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, will replace it.
The Warm Home Discount Scheme is a £150 discount on your winter electricity bill. The scheme has closed for this winter and will reopen in October 2025. If you receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, you will automatically receive a letter about the discount if you are eligible. Otherwise, you will need to apply directly to your energy supplier. Your electricity supplier can tell you how you will receive the discount, for example, as a voucher to top up your meter. You will need to stay with your supplier until the discount is paid.
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Child Winter Heating Payment
The Winter Fuel Payment is no longer available to people living in Scotland. Instead, the Scottish Government introduced the Winter Heating Payment (WHP), which has replaced the UK Government's Cold Weather Payment (CWP). This benefit provides a stable, reliable, annual payment to people in receipt of certain benefits who might have extra heating needs during the winter.
The Child Winter Heating Payment, formerly known as Child Winter Heating Assistance, is a benefit provided by the Scottish Government. It was first paid in 2020 and is a payment to help disabled children and young people and their families with increased heating costs over the winter. The payment is made per individual rather than per household, meaning each eligible child in the household will receive a payment. For the winter of 2024-2025, the payment amount is £251.50.
To be eligible for the Child Winter Heating Payment, you must have a disabled child or young person in your household who receives the highest rate care component or enhanced daily living component. Additionally, you must be in receipt of certain benefits during the qualifying week, which is the week starting on the first Monday in November. For example, if you receive Universal Credit, you must also get the disabled child element to qualify.
If you believe you are eligible and have not received the Child Winter Heating Payment, you should contact Social Security Scotland. You can also refer to the social security policy papers published by the Scottish Government for more information on the development of devolved benefits in Scotland, including the Child Winter Heating Payment.
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Household Support Fund
The Winter Fuel Payment is a tax-free payment of either £200 or £300 that helps people of pension age who receive certain qualifying benefits pay their heating bills. It is paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). However, Winter Fuel Payment is no longer available to people living in Scotland. A new benefit, the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, will replace it in 2024.
If you were born before 22 September 1959, you may be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment of between £100 and £300 to help with heating bills for winter 2025 to 2026. Most eligible people will be paid in November or December 2025. You can also get a Winter Fuel Payment if you live in a care home. You will not be eligible if you receive Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
If you are in Scotland and are struggling to afford essential costs, you may be able to get help from your local council through the Household Support Fund. This funding is aimed at anyone who is vulnerable or unable to pay for essentials. You can also apply for a grant from the Scottish Welfare Fund through your local council. There are different grants available depending on your circumstances.
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Frequently asked questions
In Scotland, Winter Fuel Payment is now called Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.
The payment is an annual grant of £100, £200 or £300, depending on the recipient's circumstances.
All pensioner households in Scotland qualify for Winter Fuel/Pension Age Winter Heating Payments.
The Winter Fuel Payment will be made from December 2025.
You will get a letter or an email from Social Security Scotland informing you of your eligibility.
