State pensioners due to receive free £368 in bank account before end of year

People over State Pension age are due up to £368 in extra payments before the end of this year. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) claimants over 66 could be eligible for three separate payments due over the winter months.

A new lump sum replacing the annual Winter Fuel Payment, which is currently administered by the DWP, in Scotland. It is set to be replaced by the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP) and will be delivered by Social Security Scotland which is north of the border.

The guidance on GOV.ScOT explains that payment rates will be £100, £150, £200 or £300 for individuals, resulting in a typical household of two generally receiving £200 or £300 in total. It states: “We intend to maintain the current values of payments.

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"That means, generally, that a typical household where the oldest person is under 80 will receive £200 and a household containing a person aged 80 or over will receive £300. The exception to this is where someone is in residential care.”

And households are also due to receive a Winter Heating Payment - £58.75 one-off payment - which 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.

A DWP Christmas Bonus of £10 is also set to be administered. 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.