Wednesday February 4th 2026
Scottish Parliament
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
The Scottish Government have announced that over 1.5 million winter heating payments, including more than a million payments to older people, have been made so far this winter.
This includes over 1,009,000 payments made as part of Pension Age Winter Heating Payments.
The payment has replaced the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland and is paid at a higher rate than elsewhere in the UK.
The benefit, delivered by Social Security Scotland for the first time this winter, is designed to help people aged 66 and over with the cost of heating a home in the colder winter months.
Alongside this, other packages of winter support is available in Scotland. This includes the Child Winter Heating Payment that supports families caring for children with the highest disability support needs with over 44,000 of these payments already been made.
The government explained that Winter Heating Payment as ‘a reliable, annual payment that is not triggered by weather’, which people can get if they receive certain benefits.
In most cases, Social Security Scotland’s winter payments are issued automatically.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said:
“As the cost of heating homes continues to rise, I’m incredibly proud of the extra support which we’ve made available this winter, with over 1.5 million payments made in total.
“Our package of winter heating support, which is stronger than anywhere else in the UK, provides the helping hand that many families and individuals need to manage their bills in the winter – without waiting for temperatures to hit a certain level.”
Describing the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment as ‘a great deal to many older adults’, senior welfare rights lead at Glasgow’s Golden Generation charity, Lynn Campbell, explained it as a service that helps ‘alleviate the stress and worry associated with rising heating costs’.
She added: “This additional financial assistance provides reassurance to them, their families, and their carers that they have not been forgotten and that their past contribution to society is recognised and valued.”
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