New heating benefit due to start next year will replace Winter Fuel Payment for one million older people

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The Scottish Government recently announced that Winter Fuel Payments will be replaced by a new Pension Age Winter Heating Payment from next year for more than one million pensioners living in Scotland.

The annual help for heating bills is worth up to £300 and is due to start from winter 2024. The Scottish Government has previously committed to delivering the new payment on a ‘like-for-like basis’ with the existing benefit, currently administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

However, a new consultation sets out proposals for implementing the new payment and gives people - of any age in Scotland - the opportunity to share their views on a range of elements of the benefit, including the name, payment rates, changes to qualifying week and whether it should continue to be paid during November and December.

The online consultation form on GOV.SCOT contains 13 questions and responses can be submitted until January 15, 2024. Under Pension Age Winter Heating Payment’s proposed guidelines, everyone in Scotland who is currently eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment from the DWP, would continue to receive the same level of support from Social Security Scotland.The Scottish Government said the “intention is that this payment will continue to be non-means tested and tax free” adding that the universal entitlement to, and automatic payment of Winter Fuel Payment means that take-up is very high.