Pension Age Winter Heating Payment

Pension Age Winter Heating Payment – Scotland

The Scottish government pays Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP) in winter 2025/26 as a replacement for the UK Government’s Winter Fuel Payment.

The benefit is delivered by Social Security Scotland (external link will open in a new browser tab or window) and provides an annual one-off payment to pensioner households to help with higher heating costs over the colder months.

Can you get it?
How much is it?
80-plus annual payment
How to claim
When is it paid
 

Who is eligible?

You can get a Pension Age Winter Heating Allowance for winter 2025/2026 if:

• you were born on or before 22 September 1959

• you lived in Scotland on at least the last day of the qualifying week, 15 to 21 September 2026

• your income is less than £35,000 (if your income is more than this, the payment will be clawed back through the tax system)

If you live in England or Wales, you can get an annual Winter Fuel Payment instead.

You can opt out of receiving Pension Age Winter Heating Allowance

To opt out of PAWHP, you need to complete the opt out form – you can access it here (external link will open in a new browser tab or window)

You only need to do this once – you won’t receive future payments unless you opt back in again.

Some people cannot get PAWHP

You aren’t entitled if:

• you don’t live in Scotland

• you were in hospital getting free treatment for the whole of the week of 15 to 21 September 2026 and the year before that

• you need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says that you cannot claim public funds

• you were in prison for the whole of the week of 15 to 21 September 2026
 

If you live in a care home

You can still get PAWHP if you live in a care home.

However, you will not be eligible if all of the following apply:

• you were in residential care for the whole qualifying week

• you went into care before 23 June 2026

• you got any of these benefits during the qualifying week:
Pension Credit
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Income Support
Universal Credit
 

How much is it?

Please note these amounts are for winter 2025/26

If you are eligible and under 80, you should get:

• £200 if you live alone or no one you live with is eligible

• £300 if you live with another person (only one of you will get the payment)

• £100 if you live in a care home and don’t receive Pension Credit or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance

 

Aged over 80

If you were aged 80 or over during the qualifying week you should get:

• £200 if you are the only eligible person in your household

• £300 if you live with someone over 80 who qualifies (only one of you will get the payment)

You don’t need to claim your 80+ Annual Payment, it should be paid automatically

There is an eligibility checker on the Scottish government website you can use (external link will open in a new browser tab or window)
 

Who should claim

You should get your payment automatically if you are of qualifying age (born before 22 September 1959).

However, a few people will need to claim:

• if you deferred your State Pension
• are a couple with a joint award for Pension Credit, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support or Universal Credit and the main person getting that benefit is under State Pension age
 

When will PAWHP be paid?

Payments will start in November 2026 and continue through the winter. You will receive a letter before you are paid, telling you how much you are entitled to.

Anyone who thinks they may be eligible for Pension Credit is urged to check their entitlement. An award of just £1 per week is enough to unlock a range of other supports.
 

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Further reading and resources

Winter Fuel Payment in England and Wales

The Social Services Advisory Committee at Westminster has concerns about the new rules governing Winter Fuel Payment

Tips on keeping your house warm

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