Low-income households in Lanarkshire will be given an annual winter heating benefit payment of £50 in February 2023 to help with the cost of rising energy bills.
The new Low Income Winter Heating Assistance is set to be the Scottish Government’s 13th benefit since the devolution of some welfare powers.
The payment is replacing the UK Government’s Cold Weather payments, which were only triggered during a cold spell of seven consecutive days below zero degrees, whilst the new benefit will provide a reliable, stable guaranteed payment in winter, no matter the weather.
Around 40,000 households across Scotland are set to benefit from the new scheme.
Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey has welcomed the planned Low Income Winter Heating, saying it will help residents “most in need”.
The MSP told Lanarkshire Live: “Most if not all of us use more energy throughout winter to keep our homes warmer in the colder temperatures.
“With the energy bills soaring already, many people on lower incomes, including pensioners and disabled people, will need further help in addition to the support already announced.
“I, therefore, welcome the Scottish Government’s commitment that they will provide a guaranteed payment of £50 to low-income households across Cambuslang and Rutherglen to help pay their energy bills every winter, starting in February 2023.
“The Scottish Government’s annual investment will mean around 400,000 households will get an automatic payment, whilst the UK Cold Weather payments only reached 11,000 Scottish households in 2021/22.”
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