Payments made automatically from early October 2025

Most Child Winter Heating Payments in Scotland are being made automatically from early October 2025, according to the independent charity Turn2us¹. The payment is a one-off, tax-free sum paid during the winter to help disabled children and young people and their families with heating costs¹.

The payment is £255.80 in winter 2025/26, and it will rise to £265.50 in winter 2026/27¹. It is administered by Social Security Scotland and applies in Scotland only¹. Turn2us describes it as a means-tested benefit, meaning eligibility depends on the amount of income and capital a household has¹. It is not taxable¹. The payment used to be called the Child Winter Heating Assistance¹.

The table below sets out the payment amounts reported for the two winters.

Why it matters for households

The payment is aimed at families in Scotland with disabled children and young people, and is intended to help with heating costs over the winter¹. Because most payments are made automatically from early October 2025, families do not generally need to apply to receive the money¹. The amount for this winter is £255.80 per eligible child or young person, rising to £265.50 for winter 2026/27¹. As a means-tested benefit, whether a household qualifies depends on its income and capital¹. The payment is tax-free, so it does not add to a household's tax bill¹.

What happens next

Payments are being made automatically from early October 2025¹. The rate for winter 2026/27 has been reported as £265.50¹. No further dates for the 2026/27 payment window have been reported in these sources.