The Scottish Government has confirmed an increase to the Child Winter Heating Payment, a one-off financial support aimed at helping disabled children and young people cope with seasonal energy costs. The payment will rise to £255.80 for the 2025/26 winter period, reflecting a 1.7% uplift from the previous rate.
According to reporting by the Daily Record, more than 37,000 children benefited from this scheme last winter.
This annual heating payment is delivered automatically to eligible recipients, with deposits starting in late October and continuing in phases. The initiative remains a key part of Scotland’s wider approach to targeted winter support.
Increase Follows Support to Over 37,000 Young People Last Winter
During the previous winter season, 37,000 disabled children and young people in Scotland received £235.70 as part of the Child Winter Heating Payment. This year’s payment reflects a 1.7% increase, equivalent to £20.10, bringing the total to £255.80 per eligible person.
The payment is made per child or young person, not per household. If more than one eligible individual resides in the same household, each will receive the full amount.
To qualify for the Child Winter Heating Payment, the individual must be under 19 years old and must be receiving one of the designated disability benefits during a qualifying week in September, which is expected to fall in the third week, although the exact dates have yet to be officially confirmed.
The eligible benefits and their specific qualifying components are:
- Child Disability Payment – highest rate of the care component
- Disability Living Allowance (for children) – highest rate of the care component
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – enhanced daily living component (for existing claimants only)
- Adult Disability Payment (ADP) – enhanced daily living component
If a backdated award of one of these benefits covers the qualifying week, the recipient will also receive the Child Winter Heating Payment.
Retroactive Claims and Cross-Border Eligibility
Recipients are not required to provide receipts or proof of how the money is used.
Additionally, children and young people may still qualify for the Child Winter Heating Payment even if they no longer live in Scotland during the qualifying week, provided they are residing in a country within the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, and can demonstrate a genuine and sufficient link to Scotland.
There is no need to apply in most cases, as payments are made automatically to the same bank account where the qualifying benefit is received.
The Scottish Government has confirmed that while PIP is being phased out in Scotland, 35,420 people were still receiving it at the time of reporting.
Payments Made in Batches Until February 2026
Social Security Scotland will begin processing Child Winter Heating Payment disbursements from the end of October 2025. Payments will be made in batches, not all at once, and this process will continue until February 2026.
In rare cases, some individuals may be required to submit an application manually. More guidance is available through the Social Security Scotland website.
For more information or assistance, families can contact Social Security Scotland:
- Freephone: 0800 182 2222
- Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The Child Winter Heating Payment remains a central part of Scotland’s strategy to support families with disabled children in managing the seasonal rise in energy costs.
