Pension Age Winter Heating Payment: Scotland’s Winter Fuel Payment
This scheme is open.
Scotland only.
Pension Age Winter Heating Payment is the annual payment Social Security Scotland makes to people of State Pension age to help with heating bills. It replaced Winter Fuel Payment for people living in Scotland, and works in a similar way — most people get it automatically, and HMRC can take it back if your income is over the threshold.
“Pension Age Winter Heating Payment helps people of State Pension age pay their heating bills. It's paid once a year and replaced Winter Fuel Payment for people in Scotland. You could get a payment of between GBP 105.55 and GBP 316.70.”
What it is and who runs it
“Pension Age Winter Heating Payment helps people of State Pension age pay their heating bills. It's paid once a year and replaced Winter Fuel Payment for people in Scotland.”
Since devolution, Scotland has been building its own social security system, run by Social Security Scotland rather than the Department for Work and Pensions. Pension Age Winter Heating Payment is one of the benefits that has moved across as part of that, sitting alongside Winter Fuel Payment in England, Wales and Northern Ireland rather than being identical to it.
To be eligible you need to have reached State Pension age. mygov.scot points readers to the UK government’s State Pension age checker to confirm this, since the age itself is set at UK level. For winter 2026 to 2027, mygov.scot’s eligibility page sets this as a fixed birth date rather than a real-time check: you need to have been born on or before 27 June 1960, and to have been living in Scotland on the last day of the “qualifying week” it uses to assess claims.
“The qualifying week for winter 2026 to 2027 is Monday 21 September to Sunday 27 September 2026.”
How much you get
As with Winter Fuel Payment, the exact amount depends on your circumstances rather than being a single flat rate, so the figures below are a range rather than a single number.
| Pension Age Winter Heating Payment minimum amount | £105.55 |
|---|---|
| Pension Age Winter Heating Payment maximum amount | £316.70 |
You do not need to calculate which end of the range applies to you. If you are eligible, Social Security Scotland writes to confirm the payment before it arrives.
The figures are close to, but not identical to, the amounts paid under Winter Fuel Payment in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, since the two schemes are run and uprated separately by different bodies. Do not assume the two rates will always match in future years just because the schemes serve the same purpose.
When it is paid, and whether you need to apply
“Most eligible people get the payment automatically and do not need to apply. You'll get a letter to confirm your payment. Letters are being sent from November 2026.”
The payment is sent to the same account your State Pension or other Social Security Scotland benefits already use, so most people do not need to give new bank details. mygov.scot names two specific groups who need to apply rather than being paid automatically: people who have deferred their State Pension since they were last paid this payment or Winter Fuel Payment, and couples with a joint award of Pension Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support or Universal Credit where the main claimant is under State Pension age.
“If you’re eligible and none of these apply to you, you’ll be paid automatically.”
“Payments start from November 2026 and continue throughout winter.”
“If you’ve not been paid by the start of March 2027, contact Social Security Scotland.”
Paying it back if your income is over the threshold
“If your total income is over GBP 35,000, HMRC will take your Pension Age Winter Heating Payment back. This only applies to individual incomes, and not joint incomes over GBP 35,000.”
| Pension Age Winter Heating Payment income recovery threshold | £35,000 |
|---|
This mirrors the rule for Winter Fuel Payment south of the border: the payment still arrives, and it is your own income that is tested, not a joint or household figure. HMRC, not Social Security Scotland, is the body that recovers the money, through the tax system rather than by asking you to repay it directly.
How this relates to Winter Fuel Payment
If you have moved to Scotland from elsewhere in the UK, or you are unsure which nation your claim falls under, check which country you usually live in for benefit purposes rather than assuming residence and nationality mean the same thing here.
mygov.scot also lists other help available alongside this payment: Winter Heating Payment, a separate benefit for households below State Pension age that is not weather-dependent in the way Cold Weather Payment is, and the Warm Home Discount, which applies across Great Britain.
Common questions
What is Pension Age Winter Heating Payment?
It is Scotland’s annual payment towards heating costs for people who have reached State Pension age, run by Social Security Scotland. It replaced Winter Fuel Payment for people who live in Scotland.
Do I need to apply for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment?
Most eligible people do not. Social Security Scotland pays it automatically and sends a confirmation letter, with letters going out from November 2026. Two groups need to apply directly: people who have deferred their State Pension, and couples with a joint award of certain means-tested benefits where the main claimant is under State Pension age. Check the mygov.scot guidance if you have not been paid and think you should qualify.
How much is Pension Age Winter Heating Payment?
The amount depends on your circumstances rather than being one fixed figure. You do not need to work out which band applies — your confirmation letter states the amount you will get.
Will HMRC take back my Pension Age Winter Heating Payment?
Only if your own total income is over the threshold. This is tested on your individual income, not a joint income with a partner. HMRC recovers it through the tax system rather than asking you to repay it directly.
Is Pension Age Winter Heating Payment the same as Winter Fuel Payment?
They serve the same purpose but are different schemes. Winter Fuel Payment covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is paid by the UK government. Pension Age Winter Heating Payment covers Scotland only and is paid by Social Security Scotland.
What if I am below State Pension age and live in Scotland?
This payment is for people who have reached State Pension age — for winter 2026 to 2027, mygov.scot sets this as being born on or before 27 June 1960. mygov.scot lists a separate Winter Heating Payment for other households, which is not covered on this page.
Related guides
Information on this page was checked against the official guidance on 25 August 2026.
This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Money Decisions UK is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and does not arrange, recommend or introduce any credit, debt or mortgage product.