The Scottish Government has announced that around 400,000 low income households across Scotland will receive the first £50 payment for a new winter heating benefit in February 2023.
The Low Income Winter Heating Assistance will be the Scottish Government’s 13th benefit and replaces the UK Government’s Cold Weather Payments, stating that the benefit is ‘unreliable’ for households as it only triggers a £25 payment when a ‘cold spell’ requirement is met and temperatures fall below zero degrees Celsius for seven days in-a-row in a certain place.
Instead, the Scottish Government plans to invest an annual £20 million in Low Income Winter Heating Assistance, which will provide a reliable payment every winter to help with energy bills.
Social Security Minister Ben Macpherson said: “Our new Low Income Winter Heating Assistance benefit will provide a reliable payment every winter to around 400,000 eligible households, including pensioners and disabled people.
"This extra financial support from the Scottish Government will help at this time of rising energy bills and other cost-of-living pressures.
"Unlike the current Cold Weather Payments, Low Income Winter Heating Assistance will provide support to people irrespective of weather conditions or temperature levels where they live.”
He also explained that the £50 will automatically be paid to eligible households, so there is no need to apply.
He added: “Our £20 million annual investment will be a significant increase in support to around 400,000 households - compared with only £325,000 and 11,000 payments made by the UK Government in Cold Weather Payments in Scotland in winter 21-22.”
The minister also said that making payments in February 2023 for the first year of the new benefit “will ensure a smooth transition from the UK scheme” and that the Scottish Government will explore the “feasibility of bringing forward the payment date to earlier in winter in future years”.
For winter 2022/23, the Scottish Government will also be extending and increasing the Scottish Child Payment in November, as well as making Child Winter Heating Assistance payments for the third time.
Who is eligible for the £50 Low Income Winter Heating Assistance payment?
Households on these benefits will qualify:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support for Mortgage Interest
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