Heating cost help

Cost of living crisis: find out what help is available

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 intend to replace the UK Government’s Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) from winter 2024 with Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP). Once introduced, it is intended that Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will be paid to everyone over the state pension age every winter.

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.

Back to top