Social Security Experience Panels: Pension Age Winter Heating Payment

1. Introduction

Following the devolution of social security benefits from the UK-Government Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to Scotland, the Scottish Government have introduced winter heating payments to replace those previously delivered by DWP.

These include Child Winter Heating Payment, previously known as Child Winter Heating Assistance, in winter 2020 and Winter Heating Payment, which replaced the Cold Weather Payment, in February 2023.

In October 2023 the Consultation on Pension Age Winter Heating Payment was launched to gather views about the introduction of Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP). This will replace the DWP-delivered Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) in Scotland in winter 2024/25.

The consultation gathered evidence on people's views of the current benefit, WFP, and how this could be improved prior to the introduction of Pension Age Winter Heating Payment. Based on the core aims of the consultation and building on existing research findings from the Social Security Experience Panels: cold spell and winter fuel payment – report, a survey on PAWHP was distributed to Experience Panels members. This report presents the findings of that survey.

1.1 - Methodology

The Scottish Government is now responsible for some of the benefits previously delivered by the UK Government DWP. As part of the work to prepare for this change, in 2017 the Scottish Government set up the Social Security Experience Panels. Over 2,400 people who have recent experience of receiving at least one of the benefits devolved to Scotland registered to take part in the Experience Panels when they were launched^[1].

The survey that this report is based on was conducted with Experience Panels members from November to December 2023. The survey asked panel members for their thoughts on proposals for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, including eligibility, timing of payment, payment rates and the potential impact of the payment on different communities and groups. The survey was distributed to 2,047 panel members^[2]. 164 responses were received.

Quotes are used throughout the report to illustrate findings. These are drawn from written comments made by survey respondents. Where necessary, quotes have been amended to improve readability or understanding, indicated with [square brackets].

1.2 - Demographics

Where possible, information from survey respondents was matched to demographic information previously supplied by Experience Panels members. Linking was not possible where there was missing or unclear information. The following demographic information is included to give context to the findings of this report. A full breakdown is provided in Annex A.

Almost two-thirds of respondents were 60-79 years old, with just under a third aged 45-59. More than two-thirds of respondents identified as woman, girl or female. Almost all respondents were white. More than nine in ten identified as heterosexual. Just over three-quarters lived in an urban location, with around a quarter living in rural areas.

Three-fifths of respondents cared for an adult or child with a long-term health condition, or an adult who needs support due to old age. Nine in ten had a long-term health condition or disability, and more than two-thirds had a physical disability.

In this report, comparisons are made between the answers from respondents in different demographic groups. These are included to give an indication of differences in opinion between the respondent groups, but caution should be used when interpreting these figures due to the relatively small sample sizes involved for some groups. These present percentage point differences only, and do not represent any statistically significant difference.

1.3 - Respondent backgrounds

Survey respondents were asked to provide some background information on how they heat their home, and any fuel payments that they have received in the past. The majority (67 per cent) of survey respondents were connected to the national gas grid (Table 1.1). Older respondents were slightly more likely to live off-gas grid (Table 1.2).

*Figures may not add to 100 per cent due to rounding.

*Figures may not add to 100 per cent due to rounding.

The breakdown of heating methods used is shown in Table 1.3. The majority (69 per cent) used mains gas to heat their home, with around a quarter (24 per cent) using electric. Under 'Other' (10 per cent), types of heating included Oil, Gas Canisters, Solid Fuel, Air and Ground Heat Pumps and Liquid Petroleum Gas.

*Figures may not add to 100 per cent due to rounding and because some respondents selected more than one option.

Slightly more than half of respondents (55 per cent) had previously received a winter fuel payment from either the Department of Work and Pensions or Social Security Scotland (Table 1.4).

*Figures may not add to 100 per cent due to rounding.