Help is on the way
Hundreds of thousands of households in Scotland are set to receive a £55 payment towards their heating bills within the next few weeks. With energy bills for the average household reaching £1,834, any assistance will be more than welcome as families face inflation rates of 4.6% – 2.6 percentage points above the Bank of England's target. Luckily, the Winter Heating Payment (WHP) will provide some relief.
Automatic payment
The WHP, which has replaced the Cold Weather Payment in Scotland, is automatically made by Social Security Scotland once a year to those on a low income or benefits. This year, eligible households can expect the payment to start landing in their bank accounts from the middle of December, with the majority of payments expected to be completed by the end of January next year.
Who is eligible?
To be eligible for the WHP, households must have been receiving certain benefits during the qualifying week, which is November 6 to November 12. Benefits that qualify include Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, and Support for Mortgage Interest. Further information and a checker tool can be found on the Scottish Government's website.
What if I don't live in Scotland?
For households outside of Scotland, there are other forms of assistance available. In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, eligible individuals can receive the Cold Weather Payment, which provides £25 for each seven-day period where temperatures are zero degrees Celsius or below between November 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024. To qualify, individuals must be on certain benefits such as Pension Credit or Universal Credit.
In addition, households may also be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, which is available in November and December. To qualify, individuals must be born before September 25, 1957, and can receive between £250 and £600.
Furthermore, millions of households are currently receiving a £300 cost of living payment, with the second payment scheduled to be made before spring next year. Eligibility for this payment includes being on income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Working Tax Credit.
Overall, there are various forms of assistance available to help households with their energy bills. Whether it's the Winter Heating Payment, Cold Weather Payment, or Winter Fuel Payment, individuals are encouraged to explore their eligibility and take advantage of the support that is available.
