Social security

Heating cost help

Winter Heating Payment (WHP) has replaced the UK Government’s Cold Weather Payment (CWP) in Scotland, and provides a stable, reliable, annual payment to people in receipt of certain benefits who might have extra heating needs during the winter.

Winter Heating Payment is not based on temperature levels and will be paid whatever the weather to people already receiving the following UK benefits during the qualifying week:

• Universal Credit
• Pension Credit
• Income Support
• Income based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Income Related Employment Support Allowance
• Support for Mortgage Interest 

Additional qualifying criteria in relation to premiums paid because the client is disabled or has a young or disabled child also need to be met. 

Child Winter Heating Payment (CWHP)

Child Winter Heating Payment is a winter payment to help families of disabled children and young people receiving the highest rate care component or enhanced daily living component with fuel costs. payment is made per individual rather than per household, meaning each eligible child in the household will receive a payment.

Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP)

We were due to launch Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, the benefit replacing the Department of Work and Pension's (DWP's) Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland, in winter 2024.

However, as a result of the UK Government’s decision to means test Winter Fuel Payment, we have made the difficult decision to also means test Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.

Only people of State Pension age who get certain benefits will be eligible for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.

Because of the timing of the announcement, we will not be able to deliver Pension Age Winter Heating Payment in 2024. Instead, DWP will pay it on our behalf.

Policy position papers

We have published a series of social security policy papers setting out our position on the development of the devolved benefits in Scotland.