The Scottish Government said it will provide universal support through the introduction
of Pension Age Winter Heating Payments next year ensuring a payment for every pensioner
household in winter 2025-26.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has confirmed that on the roll-out
of the new benefit next winter, pensioners in receipt of a relevant qualifying benefit,
such as Pension Credit will be receiving Pension Age Winter Heating Payments of £300
or £200, depending on their age. Meanwhile all other pensioner households will receive
£100 from next winter, providing them with support not available anywhere else in
the UK.
Ms Somerville also announced a £41 million package of support for people struggling with energy costs this winter. These measures include an additional £20 million which will be provided for the Scottish Welfare Fund, to enable councils to provide more vital support to people in crisis this winter.
An additional £20 million will be invested into the Warmer Homes Scotland Scheme, the national fuel poverty scheme which helps people install energy efficiency measures and more efficient heating systems, saving on average around £300 per year in household energy bills.
Meanwhile grant-funding of £1 million will be made available to registered social
landlords and third sector partners to fund work to help sustain tenancies and prevent
homelessness. This is in response to calls from a coalition of housing and anti-poverty
organisations for a shift in spending from crisis intervention to prevention.
Ms Somerville said: “The measures I have announced today will go some way to allay the fears of pensioners in Scotland ahead of next winter, but the Scottish Government recognises that more must be done.
“Ahead of next winter I will bring forward regulations to introduce universal Pension
Age Winter Heating Payments in winter 2025-26 for Scottish pensioners.
“This universal benefit – providing much needed support not available anywhere else
in the UK – will deliver support for all pensioner households as we had always intended
to do before the UK Government decision to means-test Winter Fuel Payments cut the
funding available to support our new benefit in Scotland this winter by £147 million.
“We will not abandon older people this winter or any winter. We will do our best
to make sure no-one has to make a decision between heating and eating, and we will
continue to protect pensioners”.
Scottish pensioners to receive new heating fuel payment next winter
28 November 2024
