Social Security Scotland’s winter heating payments start landing in bank accounts from this month.

Financial support from the Scottish Government to help people over State Pension age heat their homes this winter started landing in bank accounts last month. Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will provide support to at least 880,000 pensioners to help cover the cost of higher energy bills.

Eligible people of State Pension age will get a payment of between £101.70 and £305.10, depending on their age and living arrangements. Most people will receive their payment automatically and everyone who is eligible will receive a letter with details of their payment.

However, pensioners, parents, low-income households and vulnerable people are being warned to look out for scam text messages urging them to claim winter heating help. Winter Heating Payment (£59), Child Winter Heating Payment (£255) and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (between £105 and £305) are automatic payments for almost everyone who is eligible.

READ MORE: New Martin Lewis warning to people due £150 Warm Home Discount energy rebateREAD MORE: One-off payments for families, disabled people and pensioners due this month

Scam text messages are from criminals often pretending to be Social Security Scotland or another Government department. They tell people they are missing out on financial help and ask them to click a link to update their details or to apply for benefits.

Social Security Scotland has emphasised it will never ask for personal or financial details by text or email or ask people to reply by text or email.The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) issued a similar warning to pensioners due this year’s Winter Fuel Payment, worth up to £300.

Information about Social Security Scotland’s benefits is available on official channels, such as its website and social media accounts. People can also phone the helpline on 0800 182 2222 if they have questions.

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville recently said: “Social Security Scotland will be giving valuable payments to thousands of people automatically to help them stay warm during colder weather.

“It is important that people remain alert to scam text messages and e-mails. Social Security Scotland will never ask people for personal or financial details by text or email.

“If anyone is unsure if they are eligible or are worried they will not receive a payment they are eligible for, please get in touch with Social Security Scotland directly.”

Social Security Scotland top tips to identify scam messages:

  • be suspicious of messages asking you to send money or share personal information such as passwords or bank details
  • scammers try to create panic by setting a time limit or saying something frightening
  • stop and think before giving out information
  • don’t follow links in suspicious emails or download files
  • check phone numbers and email addresses on the official websites
  • use ‘contact us’ sections to access information and services

If you think you have been the victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately. Report fraud to Police Scotland by calling 101.

Small number of people may need to claim winter heating payments

Some people who have deferred their State Pension, people who do not receive other benefits from Social Security Scotland, the DWP or the Ministry of Defence or couples who have joint benefit awards may need to apply for winter heating benefits.

They can safely check if they need to make a claim on mygov.scot.

The deadline to apply for winter payments in 2025/26 is March 31, 2026. People may be able to apply after this date if they have a good reason for doing so.

More than half a million families across Scotland enjoyed warmer homes last winter after receiving a total of £37.3 million towards their heating bills from Social Security Scotland.

A total of 465,510 Winter Heating Payments, worth £27.3m, were made for 2024/2025, along with 39,590 Child Winter Heating Payments, worth £10m.

Below is a breakdown of payments on the way for Scottish households, so check now to make sure you know what extra help may be on the way before winter.

Pension Age Winter Heating Payments

Pensioners in England and Wales will receive between £100 and £300 through Winter Fuel Payments. These payment started going out in November and will continue throughout December.

Social Security Scotland will issue Pension Age Winter Heating Payments using data provided by the DWP. Guidance on MYGOV.SCOT has full details on the one-off annual payments.

Payments will go into the same bank account where the State Pension goes and how much someone receives depends on their age, household living circumstances and residency in the UK during the qualifying week in September (September 15 to 21, 2025).

To qualify for either Pension Age Winter Heating Payment or Winter Fuel Payment, people need to have been born before September 22, 1959 with an annual income of £35,000 or below.

Pensioners in residential care could get £101.70 while people aged between 66 and 79 could receive £203.40 while those aged 80 or over could be due £305.10.

A full overview of the eligibility criteria and payment structure can be found on MYGOV.SCOT

Payments to be issued from November:

  • People aged over 66 living in residential care will receive £101.70 (visit MYGOV.SCOT for full details)
  • People aged between 66 and 79 will receive £203. 40 (lower rate)
  • People aged 80 and over will receive £305.10 (higher rate)

Pensioners with an income above the £35,000 will repay the money through PAYE or the self assessment process – full details on MYGOV.SCOT.

Winter Heating Payment

Winter Heating Payment is worth £59.75 this year and will be issued automatically to people who get certain low-income benefits, including households with young children, disabled people or older people. It has replaced the DWP’s Cold Weather Payment in Scotland.

Payments will be issued in mid-December.

It is a guaranteed payment that everyone who is eligible receives, no matter what the weather – Cold Weather Payment is only paid if the average temperature falls – or is forecast to fall – to freezing or below for a full week.

Child Winter Heating Payment

Child Winter Heating Payment was introduced by the Scottish Government in November 2020 and is only available in Scotland.

This is an annual payment to help families of youngsters up to the age of 19 on the highest rate care component of disability benefits and is worth £255.80.

Payments were issued in October.

This payment provides support for people on Disability Living Allowance for Children, Child or Adult Disability Payment – find out more here.

It’s important to be aware that Adult Disability Payment has now replaced all new and existing claims for Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

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