Later this year, thousands of disabled children and young people across Scotland will get a one-off payment worth £251.50to help cover higher heating costs during the 2024/25 winter.
Winter Payment Boost for Young PIP and ADP Recipients
The Child Winter Heating Payment will be increased by £15.80 from the last £235.70 which benefited nearly 29,000 families last year.
This financial support is provided to help households with children manage increased expenses during winter. Payments are expected to land in bank accounts in November, similar to the previous year.
The £251.50 payment is provided to families of children and youngsters up to the age of 19 who receive specific qualifying disability benefits.
These qualifying benefits are the highest rate of the care component of Child Disability Payment or Disability Living Allowance for Children.
The payment is also handed to those getting the enhanced rate of the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), or the enhanced rate of the daily living component of Adult Disability Payment (ADP).
To qualify for the lump sum, people must be claiming one of the above-mentioned benefits during the qualifying week, which runs from Monday, September 16th to Sunday, September 22nd.
Other important points to know about the payment:
- The £251.50 payment is provided for each qualifying child or young person, not per family.
- Families with multiple eligible children will receive a separate payment.
- If a backdated award falls within the eligibility week in September, it will also be paid.
- The payment will be deposited into the same account where the qualifying benefit is received.
No separate application is required for those who already receive the qualifying benefit. However, in some cases, some people may need to submit an application.
Social Security Scotland manages and delivers the payments. Qualifying families will get a letter close to the payment date confirming their entitlement.
Benefits that Qualify for Child Winter Heating Payment
Young people under 19 receiving one of the benefits below for at least one day during the September qualifying week will get the £251.50 lump sum.
Qualifying benefits:
- Adult Disability Payment: enhanced rate of the daily living component.
- 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.
Guidance provided by the Scottish Government explains that people are not required to show receipts or evidence of how their money is spent.
If a child or youngster gets a qualifying benefit but is not in Scotland during the qualifying week, they might still be eligible if they reside in certain European Economic Area (EEA) countries or Switzerland. Or can prove they have a genuine and sufficient connection to the country.