Thousands of low income households in Scotland will receive a one-off payment of £50 to put toward the cost of their energy bills this winter.
The new Low Income Winter Heating Assistance scheme will be available to roughly 400,000 homes that receive certain benefits.
It will be sent to eligible households in February next year and replaces the Cold Weather Payment, which only pays out if the weather is low enough.
Through the Cold Weather Payment scheme, households get £25 for each seven-day period of below zero weather between November 1 and March 31 each year.
This means the Low Income Winter Heating Assistance scheme pays double the amount compared to Cold Weather Payments, regardless of the temperature.
Cold Weather Payments will still be available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Here’s what we know so far about the Low Income Winter Heating Assistance scheme.
Low Income Heating Assistance scheme explained
You will be eligible for the Low Income Heating Assistance scheme if you live in Scotland and claim:
Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
Income-related employment and support allowance
Income support
Pension credit
Universal credit
Support for mortgage interest
As with the current Cold Weather Payments, additional qualifying criteria might be required to receive the payment.
A “qualifying week” has been set for November 2022 - during which the Government will determine who is eligible for the £50.
The payment is expected to be made automatically, which means you shouldn’t need to apply for it.
Cold Weather Payments are paid into the same bank or building society account as your benefit payments, so it is likely this will work in the same way.
The £50 is expected to be issued in February 2023, although an exact date or details about whether everyone will receive the money on the same day haven’t been confirmed.
The Scottish Government anticipates spending £20million on Low Income Heating Assistance payments.
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.”
