- Consultation on new benefit to help people with fuel costs.
Views are being sought on the introduction of the Pension Age
Winter Heating Payment, a new benefit to replace the UK
Government’s Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland.
The Scottish Government has previously committed to delivering
the new payment on a like-for-like basis with the existing
benefit. It will help more than a million pensioners with heating
costs in the winter.
The consultation document sets out proposals for implementing the
new payment when it is introduced from the winter of 2024 and
asks for responses, which can be submitted until 15 January.
The public’s views on issues such as who should be
eligible, the timing and format of the payment and the likely
impact of the benefit, are being sought – as well as further
evidence about issues specific to people who are off the gas
grid.
Social Justice Secretary said:
“Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will seek to safely and
securely transfer responsibility for the delivery of Winter Fuel
Payment to the Scottish Government, ensuring that more than a
million pensioners currently eligible for Winter Fuel Payment
continue to receive this support.
“This will be an investment of around £180 million in 2024-25 to
help older people with the costs of heating their homes
throughout the winter.
“Working with individuals and organisations with experience of
the benefits system is central to our approach to developing the
devolved social security system in Scotland.
“We are now looking for the public’s views, as well as those of
relevant experts and organisations – through this consultation –
to finalise our policy on this important benefit.”
Background
Pension Age Winter Heating
Payment consultation
Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will provide an annual payment
to pensioner households to help with heating costs in the winter.
The Government’s intention is that when it is introduced, the
Payment will have the same eligibility criteria and payment
amounts as Winter Fuel Payment.
The consultation lays out the Scottish Government’s intention to
deliver a like-for-like benefit at a cost of around £180 million
in winter 2024-25, which will be covered via the Block Grant
Adjustment from the UK Government.
