Thousands of retirees residing in Scotland are set to receive a winter payment of up to £305. The Winter Fuel Payments have been replaced by the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment for individuals over the state pension age in Scotland. The one-time payments range from £101.70 to £305.10 and will be automatically distributed to over 880,000 pensioners born on or before September 21, 1959.
To qualify for the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, individuals must have been living in Scotland on the last day of the qualifying week. The qualifying week for the winter of 2025/26 spans from September 15, 2025, to September 21, 2025. The payment amount depends on the recipient’s age, living arrangements, and benefit claims.
HMRC will recover the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment from individuals with incomes exceeding £35,000 through the tax system. Opting out of receiving the payment was possible until October 10; however, opting out after this date means exclusion from future payments unless opting in again.
Exclusion from the payment applies if a person was hospitalized for free treatment throughout the qualifying week and the preceding 52 weeks, or if they were in custody under a court-imposed sentence for the entire qualifying week. Those requiring permission to access the UK and restricted from claiming public funds are also ineligible. Residents in care homes are excluded if they were in care the entire qualifying week, entered care before June 23, 2025, and claimed benefits during that week.
Payments will be deposited into the same bank account as the state pension or other benefits received. The majority of recipients can expect their Pension Age Winter Heating Payment from November, identifiable on bank statements with the reference code “PAWHP.” While most will receive the payment automatically, some may need to apply, such as those who deferred their State Pension or couples with joint benefit claims.