One-off payments worth up to £519 for older people due before end of this year

People over State Pension age could be due a series of extra payments and energy bill help before the end of this year from the Scottish Government and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). There are three cash payments and one which is paid directly to their energy supplier.

Due to a recent eligibility change to the Winter Fuel Payment, which will see around 10 million pensioner households across Scotland, England and Wales miss out on the annual support worth between £100 and £300, it’s hard to estimate how many of the 12.7m state Pensioners will benefit from all or some of the financial support listed below.

It’s also important to be aware that the Scottish Government has delayed the launch of the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment until winter 2025/26. This new devolved benefit will replace the DWP's annual payment for older people in Scotland, but will follow the same eligibility rule change as Winter Fuel Payment - DWP will deliver payments to Scots pensioners this winter.

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Financial help this winter

  • Winter Fuel Payment, worth between £100 and £300) - issued by DWP to those on means-tested benefits

  • Winter Heating Payment (£58.75) - issued by the Scottish Government to those on means-tested benefits

  • Warm Home Discount (£150) - paid directly from DWP to energy providers and usually added as credit to customer’s electricity account, for those on means-tested benefits

  • DWP Christmas Bonus (£10) - issued by DWP to people on State Pension or certain benefits

Someone over 80, living in Scotland in receipt of Pension Credit, will receive £368.75 from the three cash payments this winter. None of these payments are due to start arriving until November at the earliest, but it’s important to be aware of how much to expect and when - especially as eligibility typically includes a qualifying week.

Winter Fuel Payments - between £100 and £300

People over State Pension age in receipt of an income-related benefit such as Pension Credit during the recent qualifying week of September 16-22, 2024 will receive the payment automatically - the money is tax-free and will not affect other benefits. Letters will be sent to every pensioner household in mid-October telling them how much Winter Fuel Payment they will receive - if they are entitled to the money.

How much someone receives depends on their age and household circumstances, but it’s worth noting that the £300 will only be paid to those born before September 23, 1944. Most pensioners receive a payment of £200.

Eligibility

You can get a Winter Fuel Payment this year if you were born before September 23, 1958.

You must also live in Scotland, England or Wales and get one of the following:

  • Pension Credit

  • Universal Credit (for mixed age couples)

  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

  • Income Support

  • Tax Credits (with an annual award of at least £26)

In some circumstances, you might be eligible if you live abroad - find out more here.

How much Winter Fuel Payment you will receive

If you live alone

You will get either:

  • £200 if you were born between September 23, 1944 and September 22, 1958

  • £300 if you were born before September 23, 1944

If you live with someone

If you and your partner jointly claim any of the benefits, one of you will get a payment of either:

  • £200 if both of you were born between September 23, 1944 and September 22, 1958

  • £300 if one or both of you were born before September 23, 1944

If you live in a care home

If you are eligible you will get either:

  • £100 if you were born between September 23, 1944 and September 22, 1958

  • £150 if you were born before September 23, 1944

Winter Heating Payment - £58.75 (Scotland only)

This devolved benefit is paid per person and is only available in Scotland and replaced the £25 Cold Weather Payment delivered by the DWP in winter 2022. Unlike the DWP benefit, it is not dependent on a sustained period of cold weather in a specific location but is an annual, one-off payment made no matter the temperature.

The payment rises each year in line with inflation and will be worth £58.75 this winter. Payments are set to start in mid-December.

It is designed to help people on a low income or benefits who might have extra heating needs during the winter - this includes those on Pension Credit, Universal Credit and Income Support.

The qualifying period for this year’s payment is November 4-10, 2024. More information about this year’s payment, including eligibility, can be found here.

Warm Home Discount - £150 paid to energy provider

The Warm Home Discount Scheme for winter 2024 to 2025 is now open across Great Britain and will give people on certain benefits £150 off their electricity bill. A full list of participating energy suppliers can be found here.

The scheme eligibility rules changed in 2022, which means some people may no longer qualify and others might need to apply - people in Scotland - as they will not receive the discount directly.

The money is paid directly by the DWP to energy suppliers between October and March. Eligible households may also be able to get the discount off their gas bill instead - if their supplier provides them with both gas and electricity, just contact them once the scheme opens to find out.

If you’re a credit customer the £150 will be added to your electricity account and if you’re on Pay As You Go or Prepayment, you’ll be sent a voucher that you can use to top-up your meter. Below is an overview of the scheme and the rules on eligibility.

You can read more about the changes to eligibility on GOV.UK here.

DWP Christmas Bonus - £10

The bonus is a one-off, tax-free £10 payment made to people in receipt of State Pension or those claiming certain other benefits during the qualifying week - usually the first full week of December.

Nobody needs to apply for the extra £10 as it should automatically go into the account where you usually receive your State Pension or benefit payment. It is made as a separate payment, independent of your scheduled State Pension or benefit payment, so it may arrive on a different day.

Eligible benefits

  • Adult Disability Payment

  • Armed Forces Independence Payment

  • Attendance Allowance

  • Carer’s Allowance

  • Carer Support Payment

  • Child Disability Payment

  • Constant Attendance Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)

  • Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (once the main phase of the benefit is entered after the first 13 weeks of claim)

  • Disability Living Allowance

  • Incapacity Benefit at the long-term rate

  • Industrial Death Benefit (for widows or widowers)

  • Mobility Supplement

  • Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP) - launches October 21

  • Pension Credit - the guarantee element

  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

  • State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)

  • Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected)

  • Unemployability Supplement or Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)

  • War Disablement Pension at State Pension age

  • War Widow’s Pension

  • Widowed Mother’s Allowance

  • Widowed Parent’s Allowance

  • Widow’s Pension

Find out more about the Christmas Bonus here.