Nearly 879,000 pensioners across Scotland are set to receive the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment from late November, with eligible single pensioners aged 66 to 79 receiving £211.15 towards their heating costs.
The payment, delivered by Social Security Scotland, is up from £203.40 last winter. Payments will be sent automatically from the end of November and will continue throughout the winter.
Payment rates and eligibility
The amount someone receives depends on their age and household circumstances. Single pensioners aged 66 to 79 will receive £211.15, while those aged 80 or over will receive £316.70. Pensioner couples aged 66 to 79 will receive £105.55 each, and couples aged 80 and over will receive £158.35 each. Pensioners living in residential care could receive £105.55.
Eligibility is based on reaching State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week, which ran from September 21 to September 27. The State Pension age is currently gradually increasing from 66 to 67, meaning someone must have been born on or before June 27, 1960 to be eligible for the 2026/27 payment.
How payments are made
Most eligible pensioners do not need to make a claim. Social Security Scotland will send the money to the same bank account used for their State Pension or any Social Security Scotland benefit they receive.
However, a small number of people will need to apply. This includes people who have deferred their State Pension and some couples with a joint award for Pension Credit, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support or Universal Credit where the main person receiving the benefit is under State Pension age. An online eligibility checker is also available.
Income over £35,000 and recovery
Pensioners with total individual income above £35,000 can still receive the payment, but it will later be recovered through the tax system by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The Scottish Fiscal Commission forecasts around one million payments will initially be made this winter, with approximately 180,000 subsequently recovered, leaving around 879,000 pensioners benefiting.
People with income above £35,000 who do not want to receive the money and then have it recovered can opt out. The deadline to do this is midday on October 19, 2026, either online or by calling Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.
For people who pay tax through PAYE, HMRC will recover the payment automatically through changes to their tax code. Self Assessment customers will need to include the payment on their tax return, and HMRC will include the information automatically for online filers where possible.
An unusual transition is coming in the 2027/28 tax year. HMRC will begin recovering winter payments in advance during the year in which they are paid, meaning both the winter 2026 and winter 2027 payments will be recovered during the 2027/28 tax year for affected pensioners.
