Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will provide support to at least 880,000 pensioners to help with heating bills.

The first payments have been processed and have started to land in accounts. Payments will continue to be made throughout the winter.

Eligible people of State Pension age will get a payment between £101.70 and £305.10 depending on their circumstances. Most people will receive their payment automatically – no action is needed. Everyone who is eligible will receive a letter with details of their payment.

For pensioners with a taxable income of over £35,000, the payment will be taken back through the tax system during 2026/27.

Social justice secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville, said: “We know that energy costs are too high, and that this will affect households across Scotland this winter.  

“Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will provide vital support for thousands of older people to help heat their homes and manage costs throughout the colder months. 

“People over the age of 66 don’t need to do anything – in the vast majority of cases, the payment will be made automatically to help towards a warmer winter.”