Winter heating payments worth up to £316.70 for people over State Pension age will start landing in bank accounts next month, with at least 879,000 older people across Scotland expected to benefit from the financial support.
Social Security Scotland has confirmed that Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will start being issued automatically in November, with payments continuing throughout the winter months. Eligible pensioners will receive between £105.55 and £316.70, depending on their age and household circumstances, to help towards the cost of heating their homes during colder weather.
Most payments will be made automatically into the same bank account used for the State Pension or other Social Security Scotland benefits. Everyone who is eligible will receive a letter confirming details of their payment.
Payment amounts by age and household
The amount someone receives depends on their age and household circumstances:
- £211.15 for single pensioners aged between 66 and 79
- £316.70 for single pensioners aged 80 or over
- £105.55 each for pensioner couples aged between 66 and 79
- £158.35 each for pensioner couples aged 80 or over
- £105.55 for eligible pensioners living in residential care
Pension Age Winter Heating Payment has replaced the UK Government's Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland and was delivered by Social Security Scotland for the first time last winter.
Who qualifies and how to claim
Eligibility for this year's payment is based on reaching State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week, which ran from September 21 to 27, 2026. As the State Pension age is gradually increasing from 66 to 67, people must have been born on or before June 27, 1960, to meet the age requirement.
Most eligible pensioners will receive the payment automatically, although some people, including those who have deferred their State Pension, may need to make a claim. People can check their eligibility and the amount they could receive on the dedicated Pension Age Winter Heating Payment pages on MYGOV.SCOT.
Tax recovery and payment timing
Pensioners with total individual income above £35,000 can still receive the payment, but the money will later be recovered through the tax system by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). For people who pay tax through PAYE, HMRC will recover the payment through adjustments to their tax code. Self Assessment customers will need to include Pension Age Winter Heating Payment on their tax return, although HMRC will automatically include the information for online filers where possible.
Social Security Scotland has confirmed payments will begin in November and continue throughout winter, rather than being issued to everyone on the same date. Anyone who has not received their payment by the beginning of March 2027 should contact Social Security Scotland.
