Nearly 40,000 North Lanarkshire children and families received £2.8m towards heating bills last winter

Social Security Scotland's Winter Heating Payment is paid automatically to people who get certain low-income benefits, including households with young children, disabled people or older people.
Last winter more than 38,975 children and families across North Lanarkshire enjoyed warmer homes after receiving a total of £2,899,000 towards their heating bills from Social Security Scotland.
Winter Heating Payment is paid automatically to people who get certain low-income benefits, including households with young children, disabled people or older people.
‌
It has replaced the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) Cold Weather Payment in Scotland.
‌
It is a guaranteed payment that everyone who is eligible receives, no matter what the weather.
Cold Weather Payment is only paid if the average temperature falls - or is forecast to fall - to freezing or below for a full week.
Child Winter Heating Payment was introduced by the Scottish Government in November 2020 and is only available in Scotland.
It is paid once a year to children and young people if they are under 19 years old and get certain benefits.
A total of 35,815 Winter Heating Payments, worth £2,104,000, were made for 2024/2025, along with 3160 Child Winter Heating Payments, worth £795,000.
‌
The figures also show that 95 per cent of Winter Heating Payments were made by December 2024 and 93 per cent of Child Winter Heating Payments were made by October last year.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: 'We have issued over 505,100 payments to families on low incomes, and those supporting children or young people with a disability, to help with the cost of heating their homes.
'Many people are struggling with the cost of living crisis and higher energy bills.
‌
"The importance of these payments was brought home to everyone this month with the Energy Price Cap rising by 6.4 per cent.
"Ofgem estimates that this will add £9.25 a month to the typical household's energy bill.
'This year we will also be providing extra support to pensioners.
‌
"While the DWP's Winter Fuel Payment will only be available to some pensioners, Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will provide money to every pensioner household in the country.
"The Scottish Government will continue to protect pensioners and people on low incomes in Scotland.'
*Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Scotsman

a day ago

• Scotsman

Decision to delay new muirburn rules in Scotland hailed as a 'pragmatic' move

The licensing proposals have raised widespread concern among the rural sector Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Rural groups have welcomed the Scottish Government's decision to delay muirburn licensing rules by several months. The move was hailed as 'a pragmatic and necessary step' by landowner organisation Scottish Land and Estates (SL&E). Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ministers confirmed they would delay the start date for licensing until January 1 next year – just over three months later than the previous intended start date of September 15 this year. Muirburn, controlled burning in cooler months, can help reduce the risk of wildfires The provisions of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 will require a licence to be in place for all muirburn activity including on non-peatland. Muirburn is the controlled burning of moorland vegetation between September and March to encourage new growth, either heather or grassland, for the management of moorland game and wildlife. It has also been used for generations as a technique to prevent wildfires as it creates fire breaks in the land. The licensing proposals raised widespread concern among the rural sector due to the complexity of mapping peat depth, establishing survey data and preparing licence applications. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad They had warned that rushing the system into place before the start of the 2025–2026 muirburn season would have created unworkable conditions and significantly increased wildfire risk. Rural groups including SL&E, NFU Scotland, the Scottish Gamekeepers Association, Scotland's Regional Moorland Groups and BASC worked together to call on ministers to make a more realistic timetable on muirburn licensing. Ross Ewing, director of moorland at SL&E, said: 'We welcome the Scottish Government's decision to delay the introduction of muirburn licensing until January 2026. 'This is a pragmatic and necessary step that reflects the serious technical and logistical challenges raised by stakeholders across the rural sector. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'There is broad consensus that muirburn, when conducted responsibly and in line with best practice, is an essential land management tool – not least in helping to reduce fuel loads and mitigate the growing threat of wildfires. 'However, introducing a licensing system without giving land managers sufficient time to comply would have been counterproductive and potentially dangerous.' Earlier this year, at the start of the wildfire season, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said muirburn is an effective tool for wildfire management. SFRS wildfire chief Michael Humphries said firefighters are trained on 'back burning' when it comes to wildfire prevention which he said is essentially the same. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Some conservation groups have opted to trial different methods to prevent wildfire spread, including wetting and rewetting parts of the landscape or cutting 'fuel load', a term used to describe vegetation that could raise the risk of wildfires or further their spread. Other conservation groups, including Trees for Life, claim native broadleaf woodlands are more wildfire resilient. RSPB Scotland, for example, claims muirburn is 'a high risk land management activity' and campaigned for the practice to be strongly regulated. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Cairngorms National Park Authority is waiting for ministers to approve a seasonal fire management bylaw which would last from 1 April to 30 September each year.

Daily Record

3 days ago

• Daily Record

Exact date unpaid carers can report extra £293 payment missing if money does not arrive today

Thousands of Scots carers will receive the devolved payment by June 19. Around 90,000 unpaid carers will receive an additional payment of £293.50 this week through the Carer's Allowance Supplement. The devolved benefit is only available in Scotland and started landing in bank accounts on Wednesday with automatic payments continuing throughout Thursday. However, anyone who has received a letter from Social Security Scotland and was in claim for Carer Support Payment or Carer's Allowance on April 14, but does not see the payment in their account by June 30, can report it missing on 0800 182 2222. It's important to be aware that the payment is issued by Social Security Scotland to claimants living in Scotland only and nobody needs to claim it - eligibility is automatic. December 2025 payment The next Carer's Allowance Supplement payment will be issued in December 2025. People will qualify for this payment if they were in receipt of Carer Support Payment or Carer's Allowance on October 13, 2025. Similar to the summer payment, letters will be issued by Social Security Scotland before the money is due to land in bank accounts. If you, or someone you know, is providing at least 35 hours of unpaid care for a friend, family member or neighbour, and not claiming Carer Support Payment, you could be missing out on nearly £5,000 this year. Am I eligible for Carer Support Payment? Carer Support Payment is money you can get if you provide care for someone and meet certain eligibility criteria. You must: be 16 or over usually live in Scotland provide care for 35 hours or more a week, this includes if you provide care all day every day not earn more than £196 a week after tax, National Insurance and expenses The person you care for must already get one of these benefits: Adult Disability Payment – daily living component Child Disability Payment – middle or highest rate care component Pension Age Disability Payment Attendance Allowance Personal Independence Payment – daily living component Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance - middle or highest rate care component Disability Living Allowance – middle or highest rate care component Constant Attendance Allowance at or above normal maximum rate with Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension Armed Forces Independence Payment The type of care you provide To get Carer Support Payment, you must provide care for someone as an unpaid carer for 35 hours or more a week. It cannot be care you provide: as a professional care worker through a volunteering scheme or charity Even if you do not think of yourself as an unpaid carer, you might be eligible for Carer Support Payment. Examples of caring for someone include supporting them: with their mental health during an illness with a disability if they have an addiction Supporting someone with their mental health If you provide care for someone with a mental health condition, you might: comfort them during a panic attack stay close by so they do not feel alone support them through a crisis make sure they're safe keep them company Supporting someone with an illness or disability If you provide care for someone with an illness or disability, you might support them with: ‌ getting around getting dressed taking medicines using the shower or toilet cooking meals food shopping translating The person you provide care for You might provide care for: ‌ someone in your family a friend a neighbour You do not have to live with them or be related to them. You can only apply for Carer Support Payment for one person. If you provide care for more people, you are not entitled to extra payments. You can check if you are eligible for Carer Support Payment and find full details on the devolved benefit on the website here.

Daily Record

3 days ago

• Daily Record

Families urged to check school meal support before start of summer holidays

Households with two children could be entitled to between £150 and £288 over the school holidays this summer. How to apply for Tax-Free Childcare and 30 hours childcare Families across Scotland are being urged to check their eligibility for free school meal support ahead of the summer holidays. Local authorities support eligible families to access food during school holiday periods, including food vouchers and direct payments to families. The Scottish Government provides local councils with a total of £21.75 million annually to fund this provision. Households normally eligible for free school meals during term time should automatically start receiving payments of £2.50 or £4.80 per day, per child, during the holidays, depending on the child's age and where they live. While exact holiday dates vary by council, national advice agency Advice Direct Scotland calculated that a household with two children could be entitled to between £150 and £288 to help cover meal costs over the course of the six-week summer break. Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: 'Schools breaking up for summer provides families with opportunities to rest, enjoy quality time together and prepare for the academic year ahead, but we know the holiday periods can also be a time of increased financial pressure for families. 'Scotland is currently the only part of the UK with holiday free school meal provision, which is an important strand of our work towards eradicating child poverty. The Scottish Government provides more than £21 million annually to support local councils to continue free meal provision for those families that need it most. 'As we approach the summer break, I urge anyone who may have become newly eligible to check their eligibility status with their local authority and apply as soon as possible.' Parents who have not yet applied for free school meals, or who might start claiming benefits over the holidays due to a change in circumstances, are being urged to take action now. All children in P1 to P5 at schools run by local councils currently receive free school lunches during term time, regardless of their family circumstances. Children in P6 and above continue to qualify only if they come from low-income households. Over the summer and other holidays, support is available to those who normally receive free school meals. Payments are set at £2.50 per day, per child, for each weekday during the holidays, excluding weekends. However, some councils, such as Midlothian, offer higher rates of £4.20 per primary school pupil and £4.80 per secondary school pupil. This means summer payments will be around £75, £126, or £144 per child, depending on the rate and school stage. Rebecca Fagan, benefit and welfare information officer at Advice Direct Scotland, said: 'With the summer holidays approaching fast, it's crucial that families know about the support available to help provide healthy meals for their children. Many Scots are facing financial difficulties due to the cost-of-living and energy crises and will be worried about holiday-related expenses on top of rising bills. 'For families with children eligible for free school meals, payments are available throughout the summer, so we encourage anyone who might benefit to apply now. Remember, once your application is approved, payments will start promptly and will also be available during other school holidays. 'If you're unsure about your eligibility or need help applying, our team at offers free, confidential support to everyone, regardless of personal circumstances.' How to qualify for free school meals To qualify, people must be in receipt of one of the following benefits: Universal Credit (where monthly earned income is not more than £850) Income Support Income-based Job Seeker's Allowance Income-based Employment and Support Allowance Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 People who are not currently eligible but start receiving one of the above benefits during the summer holidays can apply for the extra support immediately. ‌ Applications can be made through councils or online at Those unable to fill out the application can contact the team at for help, over the phone or online. The form takes around 20 minutes to complete. Applicants will need the dates of birth of any children they have, their partner's details if applicable, and their bank details. ‌ provides free, practical advice and information on any topic, including access to benefits and whether households are claiming all the support they are entitled to. The team can be contacted on 0808 800 9060, Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm.