£503 winter payment for families with kids - Netmums (2024)

Families with children could be eligible for an extra winter payment this year, worth between £251.50 and £503.

The little-known benefit is given out to households with dependent children who claim certain benefits including Child Disability Payment and more.

But it's only available in some parts of the country.

What is the payment and where can I get it?

The Child Winter Heating Payment is a cash boost worth between £251.50 and £503, depending on how many children you have.

The payment is made once a year, every winter, to eligible families. It's given out by Social Security Scotland, which means that only those living in Scotland can get it.

It's paid directly to parents and carers to help meet the cost of raising a disabled child, or young person.

The Scottish government confirms, via its website:

'It’s a payment to help disabled children and young people and their families with increased heating costs over winter.'

Who is eligible?

Children and young people in Scotland can get the payment if they're under 19 years old and get one of the following qualifying benefits.

These are:

  • 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

But anyone in line for the payment must have received their benefit during this year's qualifying week.

For 2024, this wasMonday 16 September to Sunday 22 September.

Those who have since claimed one of the above qualifying benefits, which has been backdated to this date, will also get the Child Winter Heating Payment.

How much is the Child Winter Heating Payment?

This year's payment is worth £251.50, an increase from last year's £235.70.

However, the Scottish government confirms that 'if there is more than one child or young person who qualifies in the household, they each get a payment'.

Meaning a parent with two children who meet the above criteria would get £503.

What other help can I get if I live in Scotland?

But that's not all the help families in Scotland can get.

Households in receipt of certain benefits – including Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support or Income based Jobseeker's Allowance, or support for mortgage interest – could also be in line for the Winter Heating Payment.

The Winter Heating Payment is a £58 payment that's automatically paid to eligible households and sent out between December 2024 and February 2025.

And it isn't dependent on how cold the weather is, unlike the Cold Weather Payments.

What help can I get if I don't live in Scotland?

Households in England may also get financial help through the government's Household Support Fund, a scheme that was recently extended.

The Fund gives local councils a pot of money they can use to help families in their area, through cash grants, energy bill help and more.

Meanwhile, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) also offers lower-income households across the UK a cash boost in the form of cold weather paymentsduring the coldest times of the year.

Worth £25, the payments are given to eligible households when temperatures reach below zero degrees.

Cold weather payments are made automatically, for those claiming benefits including Universal Credit, Income Support and income-based jobseeker’s allowance.

Another scheme families can sign up for is the Warm Home Discount scheme – which could give you £150 off your energy bills.

To be eligible, you'll also have to claim certain benefits, and the one-off payment ismade directly to your electricity energy suppliers by the DWP.

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Help towards energy bills

Other households could get help directly through their energy company.

Most energy companies can support customers who are struggling to pay their bills with grants which don't have to be paid back. Grants range in amount up to around £2,000, but the amount offered and the eligibility criteria are all dependent on the company.

You'll need to speak to your supplier to see what help you could get.

And, finally, Winter Fuel Payments are cash grants given out to pensioners on low incomes or who claim certain benefits to help pay for energy bills over the winter months.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) issue the payments. But only pensioners on means-tested benefits can get the payment this year.

£503 winter payment for families with kids - Netmums (2024)

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