Social Security Scotland - Winter Heating Payment queries: FOI release

Information requested

I am writing to request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in relation to the Winter Heating Payment.

Request for information 1: In which months recipients are scheduled to receive their Winter Heating Payment.

Request for information 2: What steps were taken to inform recipients of the expected timing of their payment, including any letters or other forms of communication issued.

Request for information 3: The number of recipients who received a Winter Heating Payment in:

a) November
b) December
c) January
d) February

Request for information 4: The number of recipients who had not received any Winter Heating Payment by 28 February 2026.

Response

Request for information 1:

Due to the reliance on the large data transfer schedule arrangements in place with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) the vast majority of Winter Heating Payments (WHP) are typically paid in the months between late November and February. These payments are made automatically without any need for the client to apply. However, applications for WHP remain open all year and as such some payments will be made throughout the year as and when eligible applications are received.

Request for information 2:

The primary method of notifying eligible clients about their payment is via an award letter once their data has been processed. The automated award letter is triggered irrespective of whether the award of WHP was automated as a result of the data transfer or if they applied manually. Additionally, external communications activity is coordinated throughout the peak payment period of November to February to advise clients that we are in the process of issuing WHP payments automatically, and to expect correspondence and payment if they are eligible.

Request for information 3:

An exemption under section 27(1) of FOISA applies to all of the information requested because we intend to publish that information on 19 May 2026, which is within 12 weeks of the date of your request. We consider that it is reasonable to withhold the information until that date, rather than release some of this information before the planned publication date.

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.  We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is some public interest in release because it aids transparency in the business of the Agency, and this will be met by our planned publication. In the meantime, there is a greater public interest in taking the time necessary to ensure the information has been properly collated and checked before it is published as planned. Also, we see no public interest in disrupting our programme of work to release the information ahead of the intended publication date.

Request for information 4:

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Social Security Scotland does not have the information you have requested. Applications for Winter Heating Payment remain open all year and data transfers from other organisations are also ongoing which will then be processed and reconciled. As such some payments will be made throughout the year as and when eligible applications are received.

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 Winter Heating Payment for the financial year 2025-2026 is 478,000. 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. Our next publication will be released on 19 May 2026.

It is also important to note that not all applicants will meet the eligibility criteria, meaning that the number of applications and DWP data transfers does not directly reflect the number of payments that will ultimately be made.

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.