Social Security Scotland - Information on outstanding Pension Age Winter Heating Payments: FOI release

Information requested

As of 1 March 2026 how many OAPs in Scotland entitled to receive the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment were still awaiting payment of that benefit?

Response

We have interpreted your request to be for the number of Pension Age Winter Heating Payments (PAWHP) for the financial year 2025-26 that have to be paid as at 1 March 2026.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Social Security Scotland does not have the information you have requested. As of the 1 March 2026, the application process for Pension Age Winter Heating Payments was still open, with clients being able to submit new applications up to the deadline of 31 March 2026.

While the number of applications received by 1 March 2026 is known, the total number that will be submitted by the deadline remains uncertain. Consequently, the figure for payments still outstanding is subject to change.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that Social Security Scotland does not have the information you have requested.

The forecasted number of payments for Pension Age Winter Heating Payments for the financial year 2025-2026 is 1.053 million. This is published within the Scottish Fiscal Commission Update, table 5.2.

We have published details of our three winter benefit payments made up to 21 February 2026: Child Winter Heating Payment, Winter Heating Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment management information release to 21 February 2026 - Social Security Scotland. Our next publication, scheduled for 19 May 2026, will include the number of clients who received a PAWHP payment, broken down by month, up to 31 March 2026.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.