Funding to help with heating costs in Scotland

The new annual Winter Heating Payment has begun in Scotland.

400,000 people on low incomes are set to receive help with their heating costs.

The first payments are due this week and and more than £20 million will be paid out in February and March.

Those eligible will get a letter to let them know and receive the payment automatically.

Minister for Social Security Scotland Ben Macpherson said: “Our new Winter Heating Payment is the thirteenth Scottish Government benefit. This year it will provide 400,000 people most in need with a reliable, automatic £50 payment to help towards their heating costs.

“The Payment will reach significantly more people than the benefit it has replaced. On average only 185,000 people received the equivalent Cold Weather Payments from the UK Government over the last seven years - whereas we will pay everyone eligible every year.

"The Scottish Government is investing around £20 million per year compared with an average of £8.3 million annually paid out through Cold Weather Payment. We will also uprate the next Winter Heating Payment by 10.1%, to £55.05.”

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