Pension Age Winter Heating Payment

This advice applies to Scotland. See advice for See advice for England, See advice for Northern Ireland, See advice for Wales

What is Pension Age Winter Heating Payment

Pension Age Winter Heating Payment is a benefit for adults of State Pension age or over who live in Scotland. It’s paid once a year to help with energy bills in winter.

Pension Age Winter Heating Payment is paid by Social Security Scotland. It replaces Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland.

Who can get Pension Age Winter Heating Payment

You can get Pension Age Winter Heating Payment if:

you are of State Pension age or older - check your State Pension age on GOV.UK
you lived in Scotland on at least the last day of the qualifying week.

The qualifying week is the third full week of September. You need to have reached State Pension age during or before the qualifying week.

Check if you’re eligible for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment on mygov.scot.

When you will not be eligible

You will not be able to get Pension Age Winter Heating Payment if:

you have been in hospital getting free treatment for over a year and were in hospital during the qualifying week
you were in prison for the whole of the qualifying week
you have been living in a care home for the qualifying week, at least 12 weeks prior and get certain benefits
your immigration status means you have no recourse to public funds.

How much is Pension Age Winter Heating Payment

The amount of Pension Age Winter Heating Payment you get will depend on your age, the age of anyone else eligible that you live with and both of your circumstances - for example, if either of you gets certain benefits.

You'll get a payment of between £101.70 and £305.10.

Check how much Pension Age Winter Heating Payment you might get on mygov.scot.

How to apply

Most people don't need to apply for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment. You’ll get it automatically if you’re eligible.

You should get a letter from Social Security Scotland telling you that you’ll get a payment.

You might need to apply for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment in some circumstances - for example, if you deferred your State Pension or you get a joint award for benefits where the main person is under State Pension Age.

Check if you need to apply for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment on mygov.scot.

When is Pension Age Winter Heating Payment paid

If you’re eligible for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, you’ll usually be paid automatically. You should get a letter from Social Security Scotland in November.

Most payments are made in November or December.

Check if you need to pay back your Pension Age Winter Heating Payment

If your income is over £35,000, you’ll need to pay your Pension Age Winter Heating Payment back. This will be done by HMRC.

Check if HMRC will take back your Pension Age Winter Heating Payment on GOV.UK.

If you don't want to get Pension Age Winter Heating Payment

If you don’t want to get Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, you can opt out.

You will need to opt back in if you want to get Pension Age Winter Heating Payment in future.

There’s more information on how to opt out of Pension Age Winter Heating Payment on mygov.scot.

If you don’t get the payment or get less than you expected

If you were expecting to get Pension Age Winter Heating Payment automatically but do not get it, or if you got less than you expected, you should contact Social Security Scotland.

Find out how to contact Social Security Scotland on mygov.scot.