Money Matters Advice Service

Pension Age Winter Heating Payment

In Scotland the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment has replaced the UK’s Winter Fuel Payment from Winter 2025. It is a shared household payment administered by Social Security Scotland.

Who is eligible?

To receive a Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, you must meet the following criteria in the qualifying week (normally the 3rd week in September)

Live in Scotland
Born on or before 21 September 1959

You must also have an individual annual taxable income of £35,000 or less.

How will i get paid?

Most eligible people get the payment automatically and do not need to apply. You’ll get a letter to confirm your payment from November each year. Social Security Scotland will send the payment to the same account as your State Pension, or any Social Security Scotland benefits you get.

What if my individual annual taxable income is more than £35,000?

You can opt out of receiving the payment if your individual annual taxable income is more than the £35,000 by calling 0800 182 2222.

What if my individual annual taxable income is more than £35,000 and I haven’t opted out?

If you do not opt out and HMRC report your individual annual taxable income as being more than the £35,000 your Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will have to be paid back by increasing the tax you pay for the following financial year.

What is included in taxable income?

Examples of taxable income include:

State Retirement Pension
Private or works pensions and annuities
Earnings from employment/self-employment
Income from a Trust
Interest in savings
Industrial Death Benefit pensions
Contributory based Employment & Support Allowance and Jobseekers Allowance
Carers Support Payment (if monetary payment is received)

What if I don’t get a payment?

Although most payments are automatic you may need to make an application if you have deferred your State Pension or where you are a part of a couple and your partner was born after 21 September 1959, and they are the main claimant of:

Pension Credit
Universal Credit
Income Support
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Income-based Jobseekers Allowance

If you need to apply you have up until 31 March to claim for the previous year’s payment. You can find out how to apply here.

How much are the payments?

There are two levels of household payment depending on your date of birth.

Lower rate if you are:
- single and born on or before 21 September 1959
- part of a couple and at least one of you was born on or before 21 September 1959
Higher rate if you are:
- single and born before 22 September 1945
- part of a couple and at least one of you was born before 22 September 1945

Who cannot get a pension age winter heating payment

You cannot get a Pension Age Winter Heating Payment if throughout the qualifying week you are:

getting free treatment in hospital and you’ve been there for 52 weeks or more
serving a custodial sentence under a sentence imposed by a court
living in a care home or independent hospital from June before the qualifying week and in receipt of Pension Credit, Universal Credit or income-related Employment and Support Allowance

Check if you’re eligible

You can use the eligibility checker to find out:

If you’re eligible
How much you might get paid

Struggling with your energy bills or the Cost of Living this winter?

If you are struggling with your energy bills this winter or the cost of living, there may be more support available that can help. This can be accessed through the Money Matters Advice Service or South Lanarkshire's Citizen Advice Bureau.

Money Matters Advice Service

You can contact the Money Matters Advice Service by completing our online enquiry form. Alternatively, you can contact us using the contact details shown on this page.

Citizen Advice Bureau

The links below will provide details of your local Citizens Advice Bureau and their contact details.