People who have chosen to defer their State Pension are encouraged to apply for this year’s Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.
The payment has been made automatically to most people over the age of 66 this winter, but some people in this age group will need to apply for the benefit. People who have deferred their State Pension since they were last paid Pension Age Winter Heating Payment or the Winter Fuel Payment will need to apply.
They can apply by phone or by post. The deadline to apply for winter 2025 to 2026 is 31 March 2026.
Financial support to help pensioners heat their homes this winter has started to roll out across the country. Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will provide support to at least 880,000 pensioners to help with heating bills.
The first payments have been processed and have started to land in accounts. Payments will continue to be made throughout the winter.
Eligible people of State Pension age will get a payment between £101.70 and £305.10 depending on their circumstances. Most people will receive their payment automatically – no action is needed.
Everyone who is eligible will receive a letter with details of their payment.
For pensioners with a taxable income of over £35,000, the payment will be taken back through the tax system during 2026/27.
Social Justice Secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “We know that energy costs are too high, and that this will affect households across Scotland this winter.
“Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will provide vital support for thousands of older people to help heat their homes and manage costs throughout the colder months.
“People over the age of 66 don’t need to do anything – in the vast majority of cases, the payment will be made automatically to help towards a warmer winter.”
Pension Age Winter Heating Payments have started and will continue throughout the winter.
The annual payment of between £101.70 and £305.10 helps people aged 66 or over with the costs of heating their homes.
The Scottish Fiscal Commission have forecast that around 1.055 million payments will be made in winter 2025-26, with the number of payments recovered estimated to be 169,000. Fiscal Update: August 2025
Pension Age Winter Heating Payment replaces Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland and will be delivered by Social Security Scotland.
People of State Pension age will receive Pension Age Winter Heating Payment from Social Security Scotland this winter.
Pension Age Winter Heating Payment has replaced the Winter Fuel Payment for people in Scotland. Eligible people will receive a payment of between £101.70 and £305.10
Payments will start from November this year and will be made into the same bank account as someone’s State Pension or Social Security Scotland benefit.
Most people will receive the payment automatically – no action is needed.
Pensioners with a taxable annual income over £35,000 will have the payment taken back through their tax code or Self Assessment Tax return by HMRC.
Shareable resources are available for those who support people of pension age.
Pension Age Winter Heating Payments to begin in November
This winter at least 880,000 pensioners across Scotland are set to receive Pension Age Winter Heating Payment to help with heating their home.
From November, eligible people of State Pension age will get a payment between £101.70 and £305.10 depending on their circumstances. Most people will receive their payment automatically – no action is needed.
For pensioners with a taxable income of over £35,000, the payment will be taken back through the tax system during 2026/27.
People can choose to opt out of receiving the payment by completing the online form on the MyGov website by 10 October 2025.
An eligibility checker has also been created to help people find out how much they are likely to receive.
Social Justice Secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “At least 880,000 pensioners in Scotland are estimated to benefit from the payment. And with the recent announcement on increasing energy costs, this could be a valuable lifeline for older people in Scotland.
“We are committed to treating people with the dignity, fairness and respect they deserve. Our approach supports those most in need. The Scottish Government will continue to ensure older people get the financial help they need, this winter or any winter.
“It is also important to highlight that most people don’t need to do anything – they will automatically receive the payment if eligible.”
Social Security Scotland will send a letter to everyone who will receive a payment. Subject to Parliamentary approval, payments will start from November 2025 and continue throughout the winter.
Proposals to support pensioners in Scotland this winter
All pensioners in Scotland with an income of less than £35,000 will receive Pension Age Winter Heating Payments this winter of either £203.40 or £305.10 per household, Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has confirmed.
This means pensioners in Scotland will be better off compared to those in the rest of the UK.
Pensioner households with no-one aged 80 or over will receive £203.40, rising to £305.10 for households with someone aged 80 or over.
Following the UK Government’s recent change to winter fuel payments, the Scottish Government will withdraw the current amendment regulations before the Scottish Parliament, which were previously lodged in order to protect pensioners in Scotland against the UK Government’s planned cuts to winter fuel payments.
The move will now see over 720,000 Scottish pensioners benefit.
Ms Somerville said: “The UK Government’s decision to cut the Winter Fuel Payment last winter was a betrayal of millions of pensioners, and their recent U-turn is welcome if belated.
“Following careful consideration of the options available, the Scottish Government will mirror the approach taken by the UK Government. We will bring forward regulations to ensure that, from this winter onwards, all pensioners will receive either £203.40 or £305.10 per household, depending on age.
“We are in discussion with the UK Government to extend the proposed arrangements in England and Wales to recover payments from those pensioners with an individual income of more than £35,000 through the tax system.
“The intention is that the payment will be recovered automatically, and pensioners will not need to register with HMRC for this or take any further action.
“This approach ensures a higher level of support which those most in need will receive. Over 720,000 Scottish pensioners are estimated to benefit from the higher payment.”
Leading pensioner poverty charity welcomes decision on Pension Age Winter Heating Payment
Debbie Horne, Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Independent Age, said: “We welcome today’s confirmation from the Scottish Government that all older people with an income of less than £35,000 a year will receive the higher rate of Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.
“This decision will provide some comfort to the hundreds of thousands of older people in Scotland who live in fuel poverty.
“In a compassionate and wealthy society, no one should struggle to stay warm in the winter due to cost. The commitment by the Scottish Government to uprate the PAWHP annually is also welcome and key to ensuring the payment does not lose its value due to inflation.
“This means the payment will now be worth £203.40 or £305.10 per household, depending on age, with the payment recovered through tax from those with an income over £35,000.
“We welcome this decision and hope the Scottish Government continues to take steps to reduce financial hardship, including the creation of a strategy to tackle pensioner poverty.”
Gordon Macdonald, SNP MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, has urged residents across the city to take part in the Scottish Government’s consultation on the introduction of the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.
From winter 2024, the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, which will be an annual payment, will replace the UK government’s Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland.
The Scottish Government are consulting people across Edinburgh to understand who should be eligible for this payment, when and how it should be delivered, and what measures can be put in place to support those living off the gas grid. The consultation closes on January 15th 2024.
Gordon Macdonald MSP is urging constituents across Edinburgh Pentlands to complete the consultation to ensure the payment is as effective as possible in helping pensioners with their winter heating costs.
Commenting, Gordon said: “The new Pension Age Winter Heating Payment delivered by the SNP Government will help over a million pensioners in Scotland with their heating costs, including thousands across Edinburgh.
“The SNP Government is committed to helping the most vulnerable through the difficult winter period – but it is vital people make their views known of how this payment can best be delivered.
“Since setting up a devolved social security system with compassion, fairness, and respect at its core – 13 benefits, of which 7 are unique to Scotland, have been established.
“Social Security Scotland is set to deliver £5.3 billion in devolved benefits in 2023-24 alone, supporting over 1.2 million peopleas the SNP continues to deliver every day for the people of Scotland.”
Consultation on new benefit to help with fuel costs
Views are being sought on the introduction of the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, a new benefit to replace the UK Government’s Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland.
The Scottish Government has previously committed to delivering the new payment on a like-for-like basis with the existing benefit. It will help more than a million pensioners with heating costs in the winter.
The consultation document sets out proposals for implementing the new payment when it is introduced from the winter of 2024 and asks for responses, which can be submitted until 15 January.
The public’s views on issues such as who should be eligible, the timing and format of the payment and the likely impact of the benefit, are being sought – as well as further evidence about issues specific to people who are off the gas grid.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will seek to safely and securely transfer responsibility for the delivery of Winter Fuel Payment to the Scottish Government, ensuring that more than a million pensioners currently eligible for Winter Fuel Payment continue to receive this support.
“This will be an investment of around £180 million in 2024-25 to help older people with the costs of heating their homes throughout the winter.
“Working with individuals and organisations with experience of the benefits system is central to our approach to developing the devolved social security system in Scotland.
“We are now looking for the public’s views, as well as those of relevant experts and organisations – through this consultation – to finalise our policy on this important benefit.”
