Child Winter Heating Assistance

Child Winter Heating Assistance is a payment administered to help families with a child on the highest rate component of Disability Living Allowance for Children (DLA).

The payment is paid once each year during the winter to assist disabled children, young people, and their families with the financial burden of heating costs.

What is Child Winter Heating Assistance?

Child Winter Heating Assistance is overseen by Social Security Scotland and was first introduced by the Scottish Government in 2020 during the Coronavirus pandemic. The payment was created in recognition of the heating expense during the winter period and how this challenges those on a low income.

This year the payment for winter 2022-2023 is £214.10 and it is hoped that it will help families towards the unprecedented rise in energy bills.

While the payment is designed to go towards winter heating costs you do not need to show receipts or proof of how you spent the money.

Who is Eligible to Apply for Child Winter Heating Assistance?

To qualify for Child Winter Heating Assistance, you must meet the following criteria:

• You have a child on the highest rate component of Disability Living Allowance
• You live in Scotland
• The young person is under the age of 19 and receiving a ‘qualifying benefit’

You must have been receiving one of the following qualifying benefits during the week of Monday 19^th September to Sunday 25^th September 2022 to be entitled to claim Child Winter Heating Assistance:

• The highest rate of the Care component of Child Disability Payment
• The highest rate of the Care component of Disability Living Allowance for Children
• The enhanced Daily Living Component of Personal Independence Payment
• The enhanced rate of the Daily Living Component of Adult Disability Payment 

How Much is the Child Winter Heating Assistance?

The full amount of Child Winter Heating Assistance for the winter 2022-2023 payment is £214.10. If you have more than one child or young person who also qualifies for the payment, then you will receive one payment per child/young person.

How Do I Apply?

As you need to be receiving a qualifying benefit to obtain Child Winter Heating Assistance you do not need to apply as it will be paid automatically into the same bank account as your qualifying benefit.

Social Security Scotland will send you a letter to inform you before they make the payment.

What Should I do if My Qualifying Benefit was not Paid?

Even if your child or young person was not receiving a qualifying benefit between the period of the 19^th of September and the 25^th of September, they may still be entitled to Child Winter Heating Assistance depending on what payment was not being made.

For example, circumstances that may incur why a payment was missed include if the child was in a hospital or staying in residential care.

How Will I Know if my Child or Young Person Does Not Qualify for Child Winter Heating Assistance?

Social Security Scotland will send a letter to inform you if your child or young person does not qualify for Child Winter Heating Assistance. The letter will state the reason for this and will include details of how to ask Social Security Scotland to reassess the decision.