Thousands of people who claim DWP benefits being handed free £251 payment

Thousands of people who claim Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) benefits are receiving a free £251 payment to cover energy bills amid the Cost of Living crisis. In Scotland, the Child Winter Heating Payment used to be called Child Winter Heating Assistance.

Child Winter Heating Payment is a benefit from the Scottish Government. It was first paid in 2020. It’s a payment to help disabled children and young people and their families with increased heating costs over winter. It’s paid once a year. The payment for winter 2024-2025 is £251.50.

Children and young people in Scotland can get the assistance if they're under 19 years old and get one of the following 'qualifying benefits': the highest rate of the care component of Child Disability Payment or the highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance for children or the enhanced daily living component of Personal Independence Payment or the enhanced rate of the daily living component of Adult Disability Payment.

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Eligible children and young people living in Scotland do not need to apply. They’ll get their payment automatically. Child Winter Heating Payment will usually be paid into the same bank account as their Child Disability Payment, Disability Living Allowance for children, Personal Independence Payment or Adult Disability Payment

You'll get a letter from Social Security Scotland before they make the payment. . If the child or young person usually gets one of the qualifying benefits but this was not being paid between 16 September and 22 September 2024, they might still be entitled to Child Winter Heating Payment. It depends on why payments were not being made that week.

If this was because the child or young person was staying in residential care or was in hospital, they can still get Child Winter Heating Payment. They’ll get an automatic payment. If the qualifying benefit was not paid for any other reason, you’ll get a letter telling you that the child or young person does not qualify for Child Winter Heating Payment.