Changes to pension age winter heating eligibility
Winter fuel payments for pensions will be means tested from this year.
The Scottish Government recently announced that the Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland will be means-tested this winter. This follows a similar change to eligibility in England and Wales that have delayed the introduction of Scotland's replacement benefit, the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP) until next year.
For this year, those born before 23 September 1958 could receive either £200 or £300 to help towards their heating bills. Individuals must also be in receipt of one of the following:
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
Further information can be found at: Help with energy bills - mygov.scot Including details on other types of support that tenants may be eligible for to help with energy bills.
SFHA continues to lobby Scottish Government and UK Government to commit to providing targeted energy and cost of living measures to support households this winter.