Winter Fuel Allowance grant: FOI release

Information requested

Could you please tell me through FOI, if Scotland received the monies in the 2024/25 block Grant to pay for the Winter Fuel Payments.

Response

Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP) was due to replace Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) in Scotland this winter as a universal benefit. Prior to the UK Government’s announcement on 29 July 2024 regarding restricting eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment via means-testing, the expected Block Grant Adjustment (BGA) for PAWHP was agreed with HM Treasury in November 2023 to be £178 million for 2024-25. The UK Government announcement is estimated to reduce the Block-Grant Adjustment of the UK’s Winter Fuel Payment by around £150m in 2024-25, over 80% of the cost of the intended universal benefit, Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.

The impact of the UK Governments WFP decision on the BGA was highlighted in the letter of 2nd of September 2024 (linked below) from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government to the Scottish Parliament’s Finance and Public Audit Committee. The final adjustment to the BGA is expected following the upcoming UK Autumn Statement from the UK Government.
Budget Letter of 2 September 2024 | Scottish Parliament Website

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.