Scottish Winter Fuel Payments

As reported in today’s Sunday Post, an SNP Government will protect the Winter Fuel Payment and adapt payments to suit Scottish circumstances Nicola Sturgoen has said.
 
An SNP Government will also extend Winter Fuel Payments to the families of children with severe needs, those in receipt of the highest level of DLA, supporting households with the additional costs of heating a home. A move which will benefit around 14,000 children and their families each year.
 
Ensuring payments for the 122,000 households in Scotland who are off grid – including nearly 80,000 pensioner households – will make winter fuel payments go further by allowing households to buy their fuel when prices are cheaper rather than at peak rates during winter.
 
Winter Fuel Payments are due to be devolved to the Scottish Parliament during the next parliament.
 
Commenting, First Minister and SNP Leader Nicola Sturgeon said:
 
“For so many households winter fuel payments are a financial lifeline. 
 
“An SNP government will protect winter fuel payments and we will deliver payments that suit the needs of Scotland’s pensioners.
 
“For too long, those who live in rural areas, have faced extra costs for using off-grid heating and by the time those households received their winter fuel payment prices would be at a higher winter rate.  By making payments earlier we can help those households buy fuel earlier and cheaper so it goes further.
 
“We have argued for early payments to be made for households that are supplied off grid for years.  Now the powers are coming to the Scottish Parliament we will act quickly to ensure our pensioners get their payments when they can go the furthest.
 
“Alongside supporting our pensioners we will help those families with disabled children who often face higher heating costs by extending winter fuel payments to include families with children with severe disabilities.
 
“We estimate that 14,000 families could benefit from this support which would help to address the extra costs often faced by those who are disabled.
 
“Too many households in Scotland face fuel poverty as a result of high prices and a re-elected SNP Government will take all the steps we can to help lift households out of poverty and meet their heating costs.”