# Scotland's Winter Heating Payment continues in place of Cold Weather Payment

> Benefits · 8 April 2026

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## Summary

Eligible Scottish households receive a fixed £58.75 payment regardless of temperature, replacing the trigger-based system used elsewhere.

Scotland's Winter Heating Payment, a fixed annual payment of £58.75 (2025/26) made to eligible low-income households, again replaces the trigger-based Cold Weather Payment used in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Eligibility is based on receipt of a qualifying benefit (Pension Credit, Universal Credit with limited capability for work, income-related ESA or JSA, Income Support, Support for Mortgage Interest) during a qualifying week in November.

Payments are made automatically by Social Security Scotland; there is no separate application. Recipients receive the payment regardless of weather, eliminating the lottery aspect of trigger-based payments.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Cold Weather Payment system pays £25 for each seven-day period of below-freezing average temperatures at a designated weather station local to a recipient's postcode.

## Related topics

- [/benefits-tax/](https://moneyguide.org.uk/benefits-tax/)

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Independent UK money guidance from [Money Guide](https://moneyguide.org.uk). Information only — not regulated financial advice.