Winter heating benefit brought in for disabled children

Regulations to enable delivery of the new child winter heating assistance for families with severely disabled children have been laid by the Scottish Government.

Families in receipt of the highest rate care component of disability living allowance for children will receive an extra £200 to help with their heating costs, through this, the first disability benefit to be introduced using the Government's new social security powers.

Payments will be made automatically to eligible families through Social Security Scotland, and will begin this winter.

A client will qualify if they live in Scotland and are in receipt of the highest rate care component of disability living allowance for children on at least one day between 21 and 27 September 2020.

Social Security Scotland will automatically pay the additional assistance without needing an application.

Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: "This extra money will help the families of the most seriously disabled children with the additional costs that they can have with heating a home.

"Families do not need to take action or apply for this benefit: Social Security Scotland will make the payments automatically to all eligible families."