A new winter heating payment for older people in Scotland has begun rolling out today, giving pensioners guaranteed support with energy costs throughout the colder months.
The Pension Age Winter Heating Payment replaces the UK Government’s former Winter Fuel Payment and is now delivered directly by Social Security Scotland. It continues to provide automatic support to eligible pensioners, even though the UK Government has removed the £300 uplift that was introduced during the height of the cost-of-living crisis.
Payments will be issued over an extended period through winter, with the timing depending on when Social Security Scotland receives the necessary data from the Department for Work and Pensions. Anyone who believes they should have received the payment but hasn’t by the end of the payment window will be able to contact Social Security Scotland.
Renfrewshire South MSP Tom Arthur welcomed the rollout, saying: “I am pleased that the Scottish Government has acted to protect this important winter support for older people, especially at a time when household budgets remain under real pressure.
“Even though the UK Government has removed the £300 uplift, the core payment has been safeguarded and continues to be delivered reliably and automatically here in Scotland.”
“Older people in Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire deserve security and dignity, and I’m glad that this support is now being delivered in a way that reflects those principles.”
Full details can be found at www.mygov.scot.
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