Views sought ahead of winter heating payment change

How best to deliver winter heating support for pensioners when responsibility transfers from the UK to Social Security Scotland is the subject of a Scottish Government consultation launched today.

Pension age winter heating payment will replace the current winter fuel payment ("WFP") from the winter of 2024-25, affecting over a million pensioners in Scotland currently eligible for this support and costing around £180m. The Scottish Government has committed to achieving the replacement on a like-for-like basis, and the focus of the consultation is around gathering evidence on people’s views of the current benefit and considering how to improve the system already in place.

It is proposed to continue with a single payment in November or December each year, but views are sought on whether delivery can be improved for remote and rural households not on the gas grid. Eligibility criteria will remain at those who have reached state pension age, without means testing (to ensure a high takeup rate). Those in residential care, hospital or prison would be excluded.

Questions centre on whether the policy intent set out in the Scottish approach to replacing WFP will best meet the needs of those it is intended to help.

Find the consultation here. The closing date for responses is 15 January 2024.