At least 880,000 pensioners will be given a cash boost as temperatures across the UK are plummeting. The Pension Age Winter Heating Payment has started to roll out across the country. The payment will provide support to people to help cover the cost of higher energy bills. The first payments have been processed and have started to land in bank accounts.

Payments will continue to be made throughout the winter. Eligible people of State Pension age, living in Scotland, will get a payment between £101.70 and £305.10, depending on their circumstances. Most people will receive their payment automatically, and all eligible individuals will receive a letter with details of their payment. For pensioners with a taxable income exceeding £35,000, the payment will be recovered through the tax system during 2026/27. Social Justice Secretary for the Scottish Parliament, Shirley-Anne Somerville, said: “We know that energy costs are too high, and that this will affect households across Scotland this winter. Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will provide vital support for thousands of older people to help heat their homes and manage costs throughout the colder months. People over the age of 66 don’t need to do anything – in the vast majority of cases, the payment will be made automatically to help towards a warmer winter.”

A full breakdown of payments for single pensioners and married couples of the same or mixed ages can be found on MyGov.Scot, but as a general guide:

• £101.70 – pensioners living in residential care
• £203.40 – single pensioners born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959
• £305.10 -single pensioners born before September 22, 1945

Payments will go into the same bank account as your State Pension, or any Social Security Scotland benefits you get with the reference ‘PAWHP’. A small number of people will need to apply and must do so before the deadline on March 31, 2026.

These include people who have deferred their State Pension or are a couple with a joint award for Pension Credit, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support or Universal Credit, and the main person getting that benefit is under State Pension age.

You can check whether you need to apply on the MYGOV website.

To be eligible, you must have:

• Born on or before September 21, 1959
• Lived in Scotland on at least the last day of the qualifying week

You will not be eligible if you:

• Were in hospital getting free treatment for the whole qualifying week and the 52 weeks leading up to it
• Were in custody, under a sentence imposed by a court, for the whole qualifying week
• Need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says you cannot claim public funds

You can use the online checker at MyGov.Scot to find out how much you will be paid, this depends on:

• Your age
• The age of anyone you live with who is also eligible
• If you live in residential care
• If you get certain other benefits, and whether you get them as a joint award with your partner