People on low incomes in Scotland are being urged to check if they could receive a £62 payment towards their heating bills this winter. The Winter Heating Payment is issued automatically to those receiving certain benefits who meet the qualifying conditions during a specific week next month.
The next qualifying week runs from November 2 to November 8, 2026. Social Security Scotland will use benefit information to identify eligible people for the annual payment.
Payment increased and automatic
The payment has risen from £59.75 to £62 for this winter and will be paid automatically from December and throughout the winter.
Winter Heating Payment has replaced the DWP's Cold Weather Payment in Scotland. Unlike the previous benefit, it is not linked to how cold the weather becomes. Cold Weather Payments of £25 continue to operate elsewhere in the UK and are triggered when the average temperature in an area is recorded or forecast to be zero degrees Celsius or below for seven consecutive days.
In Scotland, eligible households receive one Winter Heating Payment regardless of the weather.
Qualifying benefits and conditions
Social Security Scotland guidance states people do not need to apply if their benefit information automatically identifies them as eligible. Eligible households will receive a letter or email telling them the payment is coming, and it will appear as 'WHP' on their bank statement. The £62 payment will not affect any other benefits someone receives.
People may qualify if they receive one of the following benefits during the qualifying week: Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, or Support for Mortgage Interest.
However, receiving one of these benefits does not necessarily mean someone will qualify, as additional conditions apply to most of them. People receiving Pension Credit have no additional requirements other than being in claim for Pension Credit during the qualifying period next week.
Universal Credit claimants who are employed or self-employed must receive a child or young person disability element. Those who are not employed or self-employed must have a limited capability for work element, a limited capability for work and work-related activity element, a child or young person disability element, or have a child under the age of five.
Specific eligibility rules
People receiving Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance can qualify if they have a child under five. They may also qualify if they receive a disability premium, severe disability premium, pensioner premium or child disability premium.
People receiving income-related Employment and Support Allowance may qualify if they have a child under five or are in a support group or work-related activity group. Eligibility can also apply to people receiving a severe or enhanced disability premium or a pensioner premium.
People receiving Support for Mortgage Interest may qualify if they have a child under five or receive a disability premium, pensioner premium or child disability premium.
Payment timing
There is no single payment date for Winter Heating Payment. Social Security Scotland said eligible people will automatically receive the single payment from December and throughout the winter.
The payment does not depend on the temperature where someone lives, meaning eligible households receive the same amount whether or not their area experiences a prolonged period of freezing weather. The qualifying week changes each year. Last year's qualifying period ran from November 3 to November 9, while this year's will run from November 2 to November 8. A full guide to Winter Heating Payment can be found on MYGOV.SCOT.
