Around 400,000 people in Scotland received the one-off payment last winter. The focus has been firmly fixed on Winter Fuel Payments since Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that the annual lump sum will no longer be made universally to everyone over State Pension age, but instead only be issued to those over 66 also in receipt of a means-tested benefit such as Pension Credit. Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP) is set to replace Winter Fuel Payments for more than one million older people living in Scotland later this year.
However, no announcement has been made yet on whether the Scottish Government will adopt Westminster’s new rule change, or provide the payment to all pensioners. Even if the Scottish Government can't find the estimated £160 million to cover the costs of providing PAWHP to all Scots pensioners, low income households will receive a one-off payment of £58.75 from mid-December to help with higher heating bills.
Around 400,000 eligible households are due to receive the money this winter. The devolved benefit is only available in Scotland and replaced the £25 Cold Weather Payment delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) two years ago. Unlike the DWP benefit, it is not dependent on a sustained period of cold weather in a specific location but is an annual, one-off payment made no matter the temperature.
The majority of people eligible for the Winter Heating Payment during the qualifying week of November 4-10, will receive the payment aut.