Winter Heating Payment (Scotland) - Can I get a Winter Heating Payment?

You can get a Winter Heating Payment if you are getting or qualified for certain benefits during the qualifying week.

The qualifying week for winter 2025/26 is Monday 3 November to Sunday 9 November. 

You need to be getting an eligible benefit on any one of the days during the qualifying week. 

The eligible benefits include:

Universal Credit

You’re working and get a child or young person disability element 

You’re not working and:  

• You have a child under 5, or
• You get the limited capability for work element (LCW), or
• You get the limited capability for work related activity element (LCWA), or
• You get a child or young person disability element 

Pension Credit 

You get Pension Credit.

Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) 

• You have a child under 5, or
• You’re in a support group or work-related activity group, or
• You get a severe or enhanced disability premium, or pensioner premium

Support for Mortgage Interest 

• You have a child under 5, or 
• You get a disability premium, child disability premium or a pensioner premium

Income Support and income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

You have a child under 5, or 

You get one of the disability premiums below:

• disability premium
• severe disability premium
• child disability premium 
• pension premium 

What if I get awarded a benefit after the qualifying week?

You might still be eligible for a Winter Heating Payment if you started getting one of the benefits above, and it is backdated to the qualifying week.

This can be complex as different benefits have different backdating rules and time limits. It's a good idea to get advice from a welfare benefits specialist if you are making a claim.