New £50 Winter Heating Payment will only go to people claiming certain benefits during qualifying week
dailyrecord.co.ukCold Weather Payments are set to be replaced this winter for people living in Scotland. The Scottish Government will introduce a new heating benefit from February 2023 that will give around 400,000 households on a low income a guaranteed £50 payment towards their energy bills.
The current benefit, delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) triggers a £25 payment only when temperatures are recorded or forecast at below zero degrees Celsius for seven consecutive days in their local area between November 1 and March 31.
The new Winter Heating Payment will be administered by Social Security Scotland and will provide a £50 payment every year. If you are currently eligible for the Cold Weather Payment from DWP and your circumstances have not changed, you should be eligible for a Winter Heating payment.
However, there is a qualifying period for the new payment which many people may not be aware of. Guidance on Scot.Gov states: “Social Security Scotland and DWP are working together to transfer this benefit.
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