- It replaced Winter Fuel Payment for people in Scotland and is paid once a year.1
- You need to have been “born on, or before, 27 June 1960” and to have lived in Scotland on at least the last day of the qualifying week, Monday 21 September to Sunday 27 September 2026.2
- mygov.scot: “You could get a payment of between £105.55 and £316.70.” The table below gives each amount.1
- Most people are paid automatically. Payments start from November 2026.14
- Last checked: 28 October 2026.
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How much you get
The amount depends on your age, who you lived with and whether you got certain benefits in the qualifying week. These are the amounts mygov.scot lists for each person.3
| Your situation in the qualifying week | Born 28 Sep 1946 to 27 Jun 1960 | Born before 28 Sep 1946 |
|---|---|---|
| You lived alone, or no one you lived with is eligible | £211.15 | £316.70 |
| You got Pension Credit, Universal Credit, income-based JSA, income-related ESA or Income Support on your own | £211.15 | £316.70 |
| You lived with someone eligible and neither of you got those benefits: your own payment | £105.55 | £158.35 if they were also born before 28 Sep 1946; £211.15 if they were born 28 Sep 1946 to 27 Jun 1960 |
| Joint award of one of those benefits: one payment for the couple | £211.15 | £316.70 if either of you was 80 or over |
| Residential care (moved in before 29 June 2026) | £105.55 | £158.35 |
The benefits that change the amount are Pension Credit, Universal Credit, income-based JSA, income-related ESA and Income Support.3
Added up for a household (our arithmetic, not a figure mygov.scot gives): two people both born 28 Sep 1946 to 27 Jun 1960 with none of those benefits get £105.55 each, £211.10 together; if one was born before 28 Sep 1946 they get £211.15 and the other £105.55, £316.70 together; if both were born before 28 Sep 1946, £158.35 each, £316.70 together.
With a joint award, mygov.scot says “Only one of you will get a Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.” It is a single shared payment for you and your partner.3
If your income is over £35,000
mygov.scot: “If your total income is over £35,000, HMRC will take your Pension Age Winter Heating Payment back. This only applies to individual incomes, and not joint incomes over £35,000.”1
HMRC does this by changing your tax code for the 2027 to 2028 tax year, or by adding the amount to your 2026 to 2027 Self Assessment tax return.3
Opting out, and cancelling
The opt-out deadline for this winter was midday on 19 October 2026, according to Social Security Scotland.5
mygov.scot says that if you opt out after a decision on your award, “you'll still get a payment for the current winter period. You can choose to cancel your award and return the payment instead.”6
When it is paid, and if you need to apply
“Payments start from November 2026 and continue throughout winter.” You will get a letter to confirm your payment. Letters are being sent from November 2026.41
If you have not been paid by the start of March 2027, contact Social Security Scotland.4
Some people need to apply, for example if you deferred your State Pension since your last winter payment. mygov.scot has not yet opened applications for winter 2026 to 2027 and says it will update its page when they open.
Not in Scotland?
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the equivalent is Winter Fuel Payment. GOV.UK says people in Scotland cannot get a Winter Fuel Payment.7
Scotland also has a separate, benefit-based Winter Heating Payment for people on low incomes.