Winter heating payment: who gets it and when
A single payment every winter, whatever the weather, if you get the right benefit in the week.
By Graeme · Published 29 October 2026 · 4 min read
Last updated · Figures checked
Quick answer · Winter Heating Payment
£62.00once a winter
Paid automatically from December if you got a qualifying benefit in the week of 2 November to 8 November 2026. It shows as WHP on your statement.
Source mygov.scot
On this page
Winter Heating Payment is a single payment of £62.00 from Social Security Scotland to help people on certain low income benefits heat their home. You don't apply. If you get the right benefit in the week, it just arrives.
Who gets winter heating payment
The week this year is 2 November to 8 November 2026. If you got one of these at any point that week, you should be paid:
- Pension Credit, with no other conditions
- , if you're not working and have limited capability for work, a disabled child or a child under 5. If you are working, you need a child disability element.
- Income Support or income based Jobseeker's Allowance, with a child under 5 or a disability, severe disability, pensioner or child disability premium
- Income related Employment and Support Allowance, with a child under 5, in the support group or work related activity group, or with a severe or enhanced disability premium or pensioner premium
- Support for Mortgage Interest, with a child under 5 or one of the premiums above
When is it paid?
From December and through the winter. It doesn't depend on how cold it gets, which is the big change from the old Cold Weather Payment. You get a letter or email first, and it shows on your bank statement as WHP.
It doesn't affect any other benefit you get.
Winter heating allowance and the other winter payments
People search for winter heating allowance, but there are really three different payments in Scotland and it's easy to mix them up.
- Winter Heating Payment, this one. £62.00 for people on certain low income benefits.
- Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, which replaced Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners. The details are on the winter fuel payment Scotland page.
- Child Winter Heating Payment, for families of children who get the highest care rate of a disability benefit.
You can get more than one if you qualify for each.
If you think you missed it
Social Security Scotland looks at your data again if it didn't trigger a payment. If you're still worried you should have been paid, you can send them a request through mygov.scot and they'll either pay you or write to explain why not.
Struggling with energy bills now?
If you can't wait for winter payments, your council's crisis grant can help with heating in an emergency. Every council's number is on one page.
Crisis grant phone numbers
