Winter Fuel Payment worth £300 set to be axed for thousands of people next year

The Winter Fuel Payment worth up to £300 is set to be scrapped in Scotland next year, with a new one planned to replace it.

The Scottish Government has recently launched a consultation on its plans to replace the winter payment with the "like for like" Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP) next Winter. The consultation aims to gather evidence on “people’s views of the current benefit” and to consider how they could “improve the system already in place”.

The overview read: "We would like to gather views to ensure we have identified the impacts this policy will have, and provide the opportunity to make improvements to the benefit going forward." The consultation paper was published on October 23 and people are invited to respond online through the consultation website here until January 15.

According to the guidance, the Scottish Government says the proposed name change will help people "identify the purpose" of the payment and who it is aimed at. Alongside this, the Scottish Government would like to shift the window to earlier in the year for both the payment and the qualifying week. They are also considering creating an application process for households who are eligible but are living off-grid.

However, there is no intention of making any changes to the eligibility criteria for the money so those who receive it now, will continue to receive the cash going forward. The payment rates will also be kept the same.

Currently, pensioners in the UK can be paid £150, £200, or £300 each winter to help with heating bills during the colder months. Most people will get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they’re eligible.

You are eligible for the cash if you were born before September 24, 1957 and have lived in the UK for at least one day in the qualifying week. The qualifying week for this winter is 18 to 24 September 2023.

If you are eligible for the money, you’ll get a letter in October telling you how much you will get and an estimated payment date. The money is usually paid in November or December. If you think you're eligible but haven't received a letter or received the money by January 26, 2024, then you should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

Some households will also need to actively claim the money and they can usually do this until the end of March. You can find out when you have to make a claim on the GOV.UK website here.