PIP & DLA claimants to receive cash boost before Christmas – could you qualify for £404?

Cold Weather Payments: Guide to government-run scheme

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The benefit is available to Scottish families who are looking after a disabled child under 18 for whom they claim Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payments (PIP). It’s worth £202 but there’s a way people can claim for last year as well if they haven’t already.

More than a quarter of a million Scottish families are claiming PIP or DLA with a significant amount of these claims for children or young people aged 19 or under.

In Scotland this means they are entitled to an additional payment every winter to help heat their homes.

The Child Winter Heating Assistance scheme pays out £202 every year, but if anyone missed out last year they can put in a backdated claim, resulting in a total payment this year of £404.

It should help hundreds of thousands of families this winter who are struggling against a backdrop of soaring energy and living costs.

Anyone who is eligible should receive a letter from Social Security Scotland which oversees the scheme.

On its Twitter account, a spokesperson said: “Child Winter Heating Assistance payments will be made in batches over the coming weeks.

“People who are eligible will receive a letter from us.”

Although it’s only available in Scotland, families south of the border are urged to check that they are receiving all the help they are entitled to.

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£15billion is left unclaimed in benefits every year, with charities and campaigners urging Britons to check their eligibility for extra financial support from the Government.

Britons on a low income could be entitled to Cold Weather Payments of £25 or a Winter fuel payment of £300, which could also apply if they look after a disabled child.

Who is eligible for Child Winter Heating Assistance payments?

Children and young people in Scotland will be eligible if they’re under 19 years old and get one of the following benefits:

  • The highest rate of the care component of Child Disability Payment
  • The highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance for children
  • The enhanced daily living rate of Personal Independence Payment
  • They must have been receiving PIP or DLA between September 20 and September 26.

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If there is more than one child or young person who qualifies in the household, families will receive a payment for each one.

Those on PIP or DLA do not need to apply as the payment will be made automatically by Social Security Scotland.

Anyone who is eligible will receive a letter to confirm that the payment is on its way.

However, anyone who thinks they should qualify but haven’t received anything are advised to contact Social Security Scotland via its website or by phoning 0800 182 2222.

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