Around 879,000 pensioners across Scotland are expected to receive a heating payment of up to £316.70 later this year, with eligibility based on reaching State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week for the 2026/27 Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.
The qualifying week runs from September 21 to 27, meaning people must have been born before June 28, 1960 to qualify. The payment, delivered by Social Security Scotland, has replaced the Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland.
Last winter, over 1.055 million payments were issued in the first year of the scheme.
Payment rates and schedule
Eligible pensioners will receive between £105.55 and £316.70, depending on household circumstances. Most people will receive the money automatically, with payments starting from the end of November and continuing through the winter.
- Pensioners in residential care: £105.55
- Single pensioners aged 66-79: £211.15
- Single pensioners aged 80 and over: £316.70
- Pensioner couples aged 66-79: £105.55
- Pensioner couples aged 80 and over: £158.35
Eligibility and application
Eligibility is based on reaching State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week. The State Pension age is currently rising from 66 to 67 for people born on or after April 6, 1960.
Most eligible pensioners will not need to make a claim, and any texts, emails, or phone calls saying otherwise are likely scams. Social Security Scotland will send the money to the same account used for an individual's State Pension or any Social Security Scotland benefit.
A small number of people will need to apply, including those who have deferred their State Pension and some couples receiving joint awards of certain benefits where the main recipient is under State Pension age. An online eligibility checker has been launched to help pensioners find out how much they could receive.
Recovery for higher-income pensioners
Pensioners with total individual income over £35,000 can still receive the payment, but the money will be recovered through the tax system by HMRC. The Scottish Fiscal Commission forecasts around 1.059 million payments will initially be made, with approximately 180,000 recovered.
People with income above £35,000 who do not want the payment can opt out online or by calling Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222 before midday on October 19, 2026. For PAYE taxpayers, HMRC will recover the payment through tax code changes, while Self Assessment customers must include it on their tax return.
In the 2027/28 tax year, HMRC will begin recovering winter payments in advance, meaning both the winter 2026 and winter 2027 payments will be recovered during that tax year for affected pensioners.
