Child Winter Heating Assistance 2022: how to get this benefit

What is Child Winter Heating Assistance? How much can I get? How can I apply? If you have a child with a disability, you could claim this benefit. However, there are also additional requirements. If all of them apply to you, you could your benefits payment with this one. Your Benefits will tell you all you need to know if you want to get this aid or more.

What is Child Winter Heating Assistance?

Child Winter Heating Assistance UK is a benefit for those living in Scotland. Indeed, it is provided by the Scottish Government. It is relatively new, as the first payments for this benefit started in 2020.

Child Winter Heating Assistance is meant to be an aid for disabled children, as well as younger people, along with their family members. Indeed, it is meant to help cover heating costs, which tend to rise during the winter.

In order to receive Child Winter Heating Assistance, the eligible child or young individual will need to receive a qualifying benefit. Indeed, this includes Personal Independence Payment (PIP), the Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment. You will find more details below.

Child Winter Heating Assistance: am I eligible?

Child Winter Heating Assistance UK is a benefit for people in Scotland. So, as a requirement, you have to live in Scotland. Furthermore, to be eligible, you need to be under 19 years. Then, you also need to receive a qualifying benefit. Indeed, it can be one of the following:

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP): the enhanced daily living rate;
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children: the care component’s highest rate;
• Child Disability Payment: the care component’s highest rate;

Your benefit may have been backdated to one of the periods above. If this is the case, this counts towards your eligibility. Furthermore, you may have more than one child in your home that qualifies for this benefit. Then, each of your eligible children may receive a payment.

What if the qualifying benefit was not paid, or the child lives abroad?

It is possible that your child did not receive their qualifying benefit between 20 September and 26 September 2021. If this is the case, they could still be eligible. Indeed, it depends on the reason for which they did not receive payments on that week.

For example, it could be because the child was in the hospital or residential care. If this is the case, they are eligible for this benefit. They will receive payments automatically.

It could also be that the child lives abroad. Then, they may still receive the benefit if they live in Switzerland or a European Economic Area (EEA). However, there are some ineligible countries. They are the following:

• France;
• Greece;
• Portugal;
• Spain;
• Gibraltar;
• Cyprus;
• Malta.

Child Winter Heating Assistance: how much will I get?

The Child Winter Heating Assistance UK rate for 2022-2023 is £214.10. You will be able to receive this amount yearly. Moreover, you will get payments starting from the end of November. 

An eligible child may receive a qualifying benefit, but did not reside in Scotland in the week of 20 September to 26 September. However, they could still claim this benefit. This is the case if they:

• Resided in Switzerland or a European Economic Area (EEA) country;
• Are able to demonstrate that they have a ‘genuine and sufficient link’ to Scotland.

What is a genuine and sufficient link to Scotland? This may apply to your child if, for example, they lived in Scotland for a long time. Indeed, this is also the case if their guardian or parent lived in Scotland for a long time.

Child Winter Heating Assistance: how can I apply?

Younger people and children that are eligible living in Scotland do not need to apply at all. Indeed, payments will typically be received automatically. Furthermore, their payments will be paid the same way that their qualifying benefit is paid. As a refresher, they are the following:

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP);
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children;
• Child Disability Payment.

Prior to receiving payments, you should receive a letter from Social Security Scotland. Indeed, they will tell you that you will get paid prior to the payments arriving on your account. Typically, you will receive them late November or after.

You may live abroad. If this is the case, you will need to apply. Indeed, you will need to fill out a paper form. More specifically, the Child Winter Heating Assistance application form. Then, you will need to fill out the form with your information. Once that is done, send it to the following address:

Child Winter Heating Assistance
PO Box 10317
Dundee 
United Kingdom
DD1 9GR

You may also apply by phone from abroad. Indeed, to do this, you must call Social Security Scotland. You may do this on +44 (0)1382 931 000. Note that this is likely not going to be a free call. Indeed, you will be charged for a call abroad. However, to avoid this, ask them to call you back.

How can I contact Social Security Scotland or the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)?

You may want to contact Social Security Scotland for one reason or another. Indeed, it could be because you have a question about Child Winter Heating Assistance. However, it could also be that you want information or to apply in another language, or in a way that suits a disability you have.

You can even ask Social Security Scotland to look over your case again, if you disagree with the decision that was taken. Indeed, you can contact them online on their web chat, on the Social Security Scotland website. You can also contact them by phone, on 0800 182 2222.

You may also want to contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Indeed, this is likely if you have a question about your Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children or the Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Indeed, notify them if the following is true for your situation:

• Details about your own situation have changed;
• Your own circumstances have changed;
• Details about the situation of the young individual or child changed.

Then, you have a couple of options. You can phone them on 0800 731 0122. You may also text them on 0800 731 0317. Indeed, they are available from 8am to 6pm, Monday through Friday. Furthermore, if you need accommodations to contact them, you can use Relay UK or the video relay service.

What other benefits could I get?

If you live in the UK and can get Child Winter Heating Assistance, you could get more benefits, like Winter Fuel Payment and Cold Weather Payment. Indeed, you may be eligible even if you cannot get Child Winter Heating Assistance. 

Winter Fuel Payment is a benefit born on or prior to 26 September 1955. Indeed, if this is the case for you, you could receive anywhere from £100 and £300 to go cover heating bills.

In order to get this benefit, you need to get the State Pension. If you do not qualify for it, you qualify if you receive another social security benefit. However, this does not include the following:

• Universal Credit
• Child Benefit
• Council Tax Reduction
• Housing Benefit

If you believe that you are eligible for this benefit, then you may claim it. If you are successful, you could get payments in December or November. However, if you are not eligible for this benefit (and even if you are), you can try to apply for Cold Weather Payment.

What is Cold Weather Payment?

Cold Weather Payment is a benefit that you can earn if you receive other specific benefits. Additionally, if you receive Support for Mortgage Interest, you could be eligible. Then, for every 7 consecutive days of temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius, you could receive £25.

What other benefits make you eligible for Cold Weather Payment? Well, they are the following:

• Support for Mortgage Interest
• Universal Credit
• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) (income-related)
• Income Support
• Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) (income-based)
• Pension Credit

Then, as said before, you will receive payments for cold periods that last 7 consecutive days. Indeed, you will be able to receive £25 for each of them. Additionally, each periods need to be from 1 November until 31 March.

If you experience a period of cold weather (below 0 degrees Celsius) for a period of 7 consecutive days, you could receive payments. More specifically, you could receive £25 for each period. The payments will typically come 14 days later.

You could receive both of the benefits above even, if you do not qualify for Child Winter Heating Assistance. Furthermore, Your Benefits can help. Indeed, we provide a free simulator that can show exactly how much aid you may receive. And it bears repeating: you can use this service completely free of charge!