Winter Fuel Payment  

The rules on who can get Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland have recently changed. We’ll keep updating the Winter Fuel Payment 2024 section of this page to reflect any other announcements in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, we recommend checking whether you are eligible for pension credit or any other benefits. Age UK recently revealed that more than a third of people who are entitled to pension credit do not receive it.

The Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland is an annual payment of £250 to £600 to help with the cost of energy.

If you are old enough to get the state pension, and receive a means tested benefit, you might be eligible. The amount you can get depends on your circumstances.

Winter Fuel Payment 2024

Across the UK, who can get Winter Fuel Payment is changing. Up until now, all pensioners have been eligible for the scheme. From this year (2024), pensioners will need to receive pension credit or other specific benefits to qualify.

Winter Fuel Payment was scheduled to become a devolved issue in September 2024. Scotland planned to replace Winter Fuel Payment with a Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP) scheme However, recent changes to the Winter Fuel Payment by the UK government mean the new scheme has been delayed until 2025.

Changeworks will keep this page updated to reflect the current guidance from the government. In the meantime, we’d advise you to check whether you are eligible for pension credit or any other benefits. Age UK recently revealed that more than a third of people who are entitled to pension credit do not receive it.

Please note that all the below information relates to the 2023 Winter Fuel Payment scheme. Details about the 2024 scheme in Scotland have not yet been confirmed.

Winter Fuel Payment eligibility in Scotland 

You need to be old enough to receive a state pension. For example, for the 2023/24 payment, you must have been born on or before 25 September 1957.

You also need to be living in the UK, unless:

• You’ve been living in an eligible European country since before 1 Jan 2021 and
• You have a link to the UK, such as having lived or worked there, or you have family in the UK.

How much is the Winter Fuel Payment?

How much you get depends on:

• When you were born
• Your circumstances during qualifying week. For 2023/24, qualifying week was 18 – 24 September 2023

However much you get will include a Pensioner Cost of Living Payment. This is an extra benefit of between £150 and £300.

How do I get the Winter Fuel Payment?

The government should have written to you at the end of 2023 to let you know if you are eligible. The letter should also have said how much you’ll get.

If you think you are eligible but haven’t had a letter, you should make a claim through the gov.uk website. The deadline for claiming winter fuel payment in Scotland for 2023/24 is 31 March 2024.

The payment itself usually goes directly into your bank account.

When will the Winter Fuel Payment be made?

For winter 2023/24, you should have been paid in November or December 2023.

If you’ve had no communication or payment, you should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.