Legislation which is set to lead to increased support to more than 19,400 children and young people to help their families heat their homes this winter has been laid in the Scottish Parliament.
The legislation extends the eligibility for the Child Winter Heating assistance to young people aged 16 to 18 in receipt of the enhanced daily living component of PIP (Personal Independence Payment).
If the legislation is passed, 5,000 additional families will receive the payments, which will also be backdated to last year when Child Winter Heating Assistance was introduced.
Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison commented on the announcement: “This extra money helps families of seriously disabled children and young people with the additional costs associated with heating their homes for longer periods.
“The Child Winter Heating Assistance is one of seven brand new benefits we have used using social security powers. I’m pleased that by extending eligibility, more than 5,000 more families will benefit from this £202 payment during the colder months.
“Getting this money to families automatically in winter will help them budget and balance the many financial pressures that they can face at this time of year.”
Child Winter Heating Assistance is an annual payment of £202 to help families of a child or young person on certain disability benefits to heat their homes during the winter months.
The payment was launched last year, and more than 14,000 payments worth a combined £2.8 million were made between November and mid-March.
It is already available to those in receipt of the highest rated care component of Disability Living Allowance.
More information about this announcement is available on the Scottish Government website.
