The Scottish Government launched the Winter Heating Payment (WHP) in February 2023, replacing the Cold Weather Payment (CWP) in Scotland with a guaranteed payment each winter1. The payment is made automatically to households on qualifying benefits, with no application needed2.
The scheme pays £50 a year to eligible households, a fixed amount that does not depend on temperature3. It is aimed at low-income households with additional need for heat, including households with young children, disabled people and older people1. Qualifying benefits include Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit and Support for Mortgage Interest2. Social Security Scotland wrote to eligible households in February 2023 to confirm entitlement3.
The change matters because the CWP in England and Wales pays £25 for each seven-day period where the average temperature is recorded or forecast at zero degrees Celsius or below4. The Scottish payment is made once a year regardless of how cold the winter is, so households receive a smaller but predictable sum rather than a variable one1.
"In February 2023 we launched WHP, replacing CWP in Scotland with a guaranteed payment each winter"
The Scottish Government has since introduced separate payments for other groups. The Child Winter Heating Payment pays £255.80 for winter 2025-26 to families of severely disabled children and young people2. The Pension Age Winter Heating Payment replaced the UK Government's Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland in winter 2024, with payments of £200 or £300 depending on age, delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions on the Scottish Government's behalf in 2024/20251. The Scottish Government said the UK Government's decision to restrict Winter Fuel Payment eligibility left Scottish Ministers with no choice but to mirror that approach1.
| Payment | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Winter Heating Payment | £59.75 for 2025/26 | Paid December 2025 to end of February 20262 |
| Child Winter Heating Payment | £255.80 for 2025-26 | For disabled children and young people2 |
| Pension Age Winter Heating Payment | £100 to £300 | Replaced Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland2 |
Sources differ on the WHP amount. UKIFDA and Changeworks both state £50 a year when the scheme launched4, while Smart Energy GB gives £59.75 for 2025/262. The Scottish Government's assessment does not state the WHP rate1.
Why it matters for households
A guaranteed payment gives households a known sum each winter rather than one that depends on the weather. For a home off the gas grid, where heating oil or other delivered fuel must be bought in advance, a fixed annual payment is easier to plan around than a Cold Weather Payment that may or may not be triggered4. The payment is automatic for those on qualifying benefits, so no claim is needed2. Fuel poverty rates are higher among older households (36%) than families (27%), and extreme fuel poverty is higher among older households (24%) than families (10%)1.
What happens next
Details for Winter 2026-2027 will be made available later in the year2. The Warm Home Discount scheme will reopen in October 2026 for that winter2.
Sources4 cited
- Pension Age Winter Heating Payment: Fairer Scotland Duty Assessment (FSD) - gov.scot, gov.scot
- Grants and schemes Scotland, smartenergygb.org
- Energy discounts and financial support - Changeworks, changeworks.org.uk
- Helping you get through this winter - UKIFDA, ukifda.org