Tens of thousands of people will soon receive the £55 Winter Heating Payment to help towards their energy bills.

Some 400,000 people will get the payment from the middle of December with most individuals to get the funds by the end of January 2024.

The payment of £55.05 will be made automatically and is designed to help people with higher energy costs during the colder months.

The devolved benefit is only available in Scotland and has replaced the £25 Cold Weather Payment delivered by the DWP since last winter.

Unlike the DWP benefit, the payment is not dependent on a sustained period of cold weather in a specific location but is an annual, one-off payment made no matter the temperature.

The payment goes out through Social Security Scotland and people will receive a letter to let them know they are eligible before the payment is made.

Eligibility for £55 Winter Heating Payment 2023/24

Your eligibility for Winter Heating Payment is assessed by Social Security Scotland.

They look at:

• what benefits you are receiving

• your circumstances from November 6 to November 12, 2023 – this is known as the ‘qualifying week’.

Qualifying benefits for £55.05 Winter Heating Payment

Households on these benefits will be eligible, if they are in receipt of the benefit during the qualifying week:

• Universal Credit
• Pension Credit
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support for Mortgage Interest.

Qualifying benefits and requirements

If you are on Universal Credit and not in employment

Guidance states that you will usually get the £55.05 Winter Heating Payment if you’re not employed or self-employed and also have one of the following:

• a limited capability for work element
• a limited capability for work element with a work related activity element
• a child or young person disability element
• the disability element of Child Tax Credit
• a child under five-years-old.

If you are on Universal Credit and in employment

You should get the £55.05 Winter Heating Payment if you’re employed or self-employed and have one of the following:

• the child or young person disability element
• the disability element of Child Tax Credit.

If you are on Pension Credit

If you are receiving payments through Pension Credit during the qualifying week (November 6-12), you should receive the £55.05 Winter Heating Payment.

If you are on income based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income Support

You should get the £55.05 Winter Heating Payment if you get Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income Support and have any of the following:

• a disability premium
• a severe disability premium
• a pensioner premium
• the disability element of Child Tax Credit
• a child under five-years-old.

Or receive child disability premium within:

• Income Support
• Income Based Job Seeker’s Allowance
• Income Related Employment Support Allowance.

• placed in a support group or a work related activity group
• a severe or enhanced disability premium
• a pensioner premium
• the disability element of Child Tax Credit
• a child under five-years-old.

If you are getting support for Mortgage Interest

You should get the £55.05 Winter Heating Payment if you receive Support for Mortgage Interest and have any of the following:

• a disability premium
• a pensioner premium
• a child disability premium
• a child under five-years-old.

Payments for winter 2023/24 will start in the middle of December with the majority of eligible households receiving the payment before the end of January 2024.

If you are eligible, you will receive a letter from Social Security Scotland before they make the payment.

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