New payment rates for winter 2026/27 have been published.
08:55, 04 Feb 2026Updated 08:58, 04 Feb 2026
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Pensioners in Scotland are set to receive up to £316.70 later this year to help cover the costs of higher heating bills during the colder months. Pension Age Winter Heating Payment is designed to help people of State Pension age and replaces Winter Fuel payments for those with a Scottish postcode.
The Scottish Government has published a full list of the new rates for devolved benefits and one-off payments for the 2026/27 financial year, which shows Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will rise by 3.8 per cent.
This annual payment for people over 66 will be worth between £105.55 and £316.70 in winter 2026/27 – considerably higher than its equivalent benefit south of the border, Winter Fuel Payment, which is worth either £100, £300 or £300.
READ MORE: New devolved benefit payment rates for pensioners, disabled people and families from AprilREAD MORE: Check if you are due £59 winter heating payment before the end of this monthPension Age Winter Heating Payment rates 2026/27
The following rates will be issued later this year, usually from the end of November.
Pensioners in residential care – £105.55Single pensioners aged between 66 and 79 – £211.15Single pensioners aged 80 and over – £316.70Pensioner couples aged between 66 and 79 – £105.55Pensioner couples aged 80 and over – £158.35
It’s important to be aware Pension Age Winter Heating Payments are still being issued for this financial year (2025/26) and will continue to land in bank accounts until the start of next month.
Social Security Scotland is encouraging older people who have chosen to defer claiming their State Pension to make a claim for the 2025/26 Pension Age Winter Heating Payment before the application window closes next month.
Eligible pensioners could receive a payment of £101.70, £205.40 or £305.10, depending on their age and household living arrangements.
The payment has been made automatically to most people over the age of 66 this winter, but some people in this age group will need to apply for the devolved benefit.
Social Security Scotland said people who have deferred their State Pension since they were last paid Pension Age Winter Heating Payment or the Winter Fuel Payment will need to apply. This can be done by phone or post, but must be claimed by March 31, 2026.
Alongside people who have deferred their State Pension who might need to claim are couples with a joint award for Pension Credit, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support or Universal Credit where the main person getting that benefit is under State Pension age.
An eligibility checker has also been created on the Scottish Government website to help people find out how much they are likely to receive.
You can check whether you need to apply on the MYGOV website.
The annual payment for people over 66 in Scotland will be worth between £105.55 and £316.70 in winter 2026/27.(Image: Getty Images )
Payment rates
A full breakdown of payments for single pensioners and married couples of the same or mixed ages, can be found on MYGOV.SCOT, but as a general guide:
£101.70 – pensioners living in residential care£203.40 – single pensioners born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959£305.10 -single pensioners born before September 22, 1945
Payments will go into the same bank account as your State Pension, or any Social Security Scotland benefits you get with the reference ‘PAWHP’.
Eligibility for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment
Social Security Scotland will look at your situation during the qualifying week – this took place between September 15-21, 2025.
To be eligible, you must have:
been born on, or before, September 21, 1959lived in Scotland on at least the last day of the qualifying week
You will not be eligible if you:
were in hospital getting free treatment for the whole qualifying week and the 52 weeks leading up to itwere in custody, under a sentence imposed by a court, for the whole qualifying weekneed permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says you cannot claim public fundsIf you live in residential care
Residential care means a care home or a hospital that is not part of the NHS.
You will be eligible if:
You were born on, or before, September 21, 1959live in Scotland
You will not be eligible if all of the following apply:
you were in residential care for the whole qualifying week (September 15-21)you went into care before June 23, 2025you got any of these benefits during the qualifying week – Pension Credit, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support or Universal CreditUsing the online payment checker
You can use the online checker at MYGOV.SCOT to find out how much you will be paid, this depends on:
your agethe age of anyone you live with who is also eligibleif you live in residential careif you get certain other benefits and whether you get them as a joint award with your partner
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