The Scottish Government has announced that all pensioner households in Scotland who do not receive pension credit will receive a winter fuel payment of £100, but not until late 2025. The payment will not be means-tested. The delay in implementation of the change means that an estimated 900,000 pensioners in Scotland will miss out on a winter fuel payment this winter.

Those in receipt of pension credit will not get the £100 payment but will still get a winter fuel payment of £200 per household – or £300 if someone in the household is age 80 or over – in line with the new policy in England and Wales announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in the Summer.

The Scottish Government made the announcement yesterday that the new universal payment will be called Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.

The Scottish Social Justice Secretary also announced a £41M support package, with £20 Million in welfare funding for councils this year, and £20 million for the Warmer Homes Scotland Scheme.

The Northern Ireland Assembly announced last week that it would be paying a £100 winter fuel payment to all pensioners early next year, following a funding deal with the UK Government.

CSPA Deputy General Secretary David Luxton commented:

“Whilst we welcome the news of £100 payment to pensioners in Scotland next Winter;  and in Northern Ireland early in 2025, there will still be over 9 million pensioners in the UK not getting any help with their energy bills this winter. Many are struggling to pay their bills with energy costs rising again and high food prices . We continue to urge the Chancellor to bring in mitigating measures to help all pensioners with their energy bills this winter”