Thousands of people in Scotland receiving one of five Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits are set to receive an extra annual payment of up to £211.15 through the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, administered by Social Security Scotland. The payment amount depends on age, living circumstances, and whether the recipient receives certain benefits as a joint award with a partner.
The five benefits that can affect eligibility for the payment are Pension Credit, Universal Credit, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and Income Support. Recipients must live in Scotland and meet specific age and residency criteria during the qualifying week.
Payment Amounts and Eligibility Criteria
Under Social Security Scotland rules, individuals who lived alone or with no one else eligible for the payment will receive £211.15 if they were aged between 66 years and 3 months and 79 years old during the qualifying week. This age bracket corresponds to those born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960.
For those who lived with someone else who is also eligible and received one of the listed benefits on their own, the same amount of £211.15 applies if they fall within the same age range. However, if a person lived with a partner and received one of the benefits as a joint award, only one payment will be made per household, going to the main recipient of the DWP benefit, with the amount again set at £211 for those aged 66 to 79.
Income Threshold and Qualifying Week
His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will reclaim the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment if the recipient's total individual income exceeds £35,000. This threshold applies only to individual incomes, not to joint incomes over £35,000.
Social Security Scotland determines eligibility by assessing the applicant's situation during a specific week each year, known as the qualifying week. For winter 2026 to 2027, the qualifying week runs from Monday 21 September to Sunday 27 September 2026.
To qualify, applicants must have been born on or before 27 June 1960 and must have lived in Scotland on at least the last day of the qualifying week. The payment is made once a year to those who meet all the criteria.
