Child 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 Child Winter Heating Payment

Child Winter Heating Payment is a benefit for parents and carers of disabled children and young people. It’s paid once a year to help with energy bills in winter.

Child Winter Heating Payment is paid by Social Security Scotland.

Who can get Child Winter Heating Payment

You can get Child Winter Heating Payment if:

  • you are under 19

  • you get certain benefits

  • you live in Scotland.

You must get one of these benefits:

  • the highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children

  • the highest rate of the care component of Child Disability Payment

  • the enhanced rate of the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

  • the enhanced rate of the daily living component of Adult Disability Payment.

You must be getting the benefit on at least 1 day during the qualifying week. The qualifying week is the third full week in September.

If you start to get a benefit after the qualifying week

If a qualifying benefit is backdated to the qualifying week, you’ll be able to get Child Winter Heating Payment. 

You’ll automatically get Child Winter Heating Payment if you get 1 of the following benefits backdated to include the qualifying week: 

  • the highest rate of the care component of Child Disability Payment 

  • the enhanced rate of the daily living component of Adult Disability Payment. 

You’ll need to contact Social Security Scotland to get Child Winter Heating Payment if you get 1 of the following benefits backdated to include the qualifying week: 

  • the highest rate of the care component of DLA for children 

  • the enhanced rate of the daily living component of PIP. 

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

If you don't live in Scotland

If you live in an EEA country or Switzerland, you might be eligible for Child Winter Heating Payment if you get a qualifying benefit and have a genuine and sufficient link to Scotland, such as having lived in Scotland.

You'll need to apply for Child Winter Heating Payment. It will not be paid automatically.

You can check if you’re eligible for Child Winter Heating Payment if you don’t live in Scotland and find out how to apply on mygov.scot. 

How much is Child Winter Heating Payment

Child Winter Heating Payment is a payment of £251.50. It's paid once a year.

In winter 2023-2024, the payment was £235.70.

If you have more than 1 eligible child or young person in the household, they'll each get the payment.

How to apply 

You do not need to apply for Child 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. They’ll also tell you which bank account the payment will be paid into. 

When is Child Winter Heating Payment paid

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

You’ll get the payment during winter, when heating costs are higher. Most payments are made in October or November.

It’s paid into the same bank account as your DLA for children, Child Disability Payment, PIP or Adult Disability Payment.

This might be the bank account of a parent or carer who acts on behalf of the child or young person.

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

If you were expecting to get Child Winter Heating Payment automatically but do not get it, you should contact Social Security Scotland.

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

If you're refused Child Winter Heating Payment, you can ask for your application to be looked at again. This is called a re-determination.

You have 42 days after the day you're told by Social Security Scotland you're not getting the payment to ask for a redetermination.

Read more about challenging Social Security Scotland.

Child Winter Heating Payment and other benefits

Getting Child Winter Heating Payment should not affect your other benefits.

If you get Universal Credit, a Child Winter Heating Payment won't be counted as savings for 52 weeks. This means if you spend the payment before you get the next one, it should not affect your Universal Credit claim.

If you apply for Council Tax Reduction, Child Winter Heating Payment should not be taken into account as income.