What is the Child Winter Heating Assistance Payment and who is eligible?
THOUSANDS of families could be eligible for a £235.70 this winter.
The cash help comes as the Child Winter Heating Assistance Payments (CWHA).
But it’s only available to those who receive certain benefits and live in Scotland.
Here’s everything you need to know about the CWHA.
What is the CWHA payment?
The Child Winter Heating Payment used to be called Child Winter Heating Assistance.
Child Winter Heating Payment is a benefit from the Scottish Government to households within the country.
It was first paid in 2020.
The payment is there to help disabled children, young people and their families with increased heating costs over winter.
It’s paid once a year and payments for winter 2023-2024 are worth £235.70.
Payments for winter 2023-2024 will begin in November 2023.
Who is eligible for the winter heating payment?
Children and young people in Scotland can get the assistance if they’re under 19 years old and get one of the following benefits:
- 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
To qualify the child must have been receiving any of the benefits above between Monday, September 18 and Sunday, September 24.
If there is more than one child or young person who qualifies in the household, they each get a payment.
You do not need to show receipts or proof of how you spend the money.
How to apply for the CWHA
Eligible children and young people living in Scotland do not need to apply.
They’ll get their payment automatically.
Child Winter Heating Payment will usually be paid into the same bank account as their:
- Child Disability Payment
- Disability Living Allowance for children
- Personal Independence Payment
- Adult Disability Payment
You’ll get a letter from Social Security Scotland before they make the payment.
What if I don’t live in Scotland?
The UK Government is in the process of distributing £900 of tax-free cash to millions of households on benefits.
The £900 lump sum has been split into three instalments, with the second, worth £300, being paid into bank accounts between October 31 and November 19.
Bear in mind, that if you receive tax credits only, you will be paid between November 10 and 19.
The third instalment, worth £299, will be paid in spring next year, although the Government has not yet confirmed exactly when.
A £300 pensioner cost of living payment will also be made during the winter.
If you were entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment for Winter 2023 to 2024, you will get the extra cash paid with your normal payment.
The full amount of Winter Fuel Payment – including the Pensioner Cost of Living Payment – you will get for winter 2023 to 2024 depends on when you were born and your circumstances during the qualifying dates.
You can get a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2023 to 2024 if you were born before 24 September 1957.
A letter will be sent to you telling you how much Winter Fuel Payment you’ll get if you’re eligible.
The Household Support Fund is worth £842million and has been shared between councils in England.
They are then deciding how to distribute their share of the fund, which means what you can get varies depending on where you live.
In most cases, support is offered to those on low incomes or benefits.
Either way, you will need to apply through your local council, which you can find by using the Government’s council locator tool.
Some households have received vouchers to help pay for energy bills while other local authorities have transferred money directly into residents’ bank accounts.
The latest batch of funding has to be allocated by councils by March 31, 2024.
Cold weather payments are made to hard-up households to help cover the cost of higher energy bills during cold snaps.
Eligible households receive £25 for every seven-day period where temperatures are below zero degrees.
The money is paid by the Department for Work and Pensions.
The scheme runs between November 1 and March 31 but you don’t have to apply and will receive the payments automatically if you are eligible.