Every Scottish pensioner to receive winter heating payment next year

Every pensioner successful Scotland volition person a wintertime heating outgo adjacent year, the Scottish Government has announced.

Ministers were forced to hold plans to bring successful the devolved pension property wintertime heating outgo this twelvemonth erstwhile the universality of its UK-wide counterpart was cut.

On Thursday, Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville announced the Scottish Government volition guarantee each pensioner receives a outgo adjacent year.

Under the plans, those successful receipt of pension recognition oregon different benefits and who person received a £200 oregon £300 outgo this twelvemonth volition get the aforesaid adjacent twelvemonth done the devolved scheme.

All different pensioners volition person a reduced outgo of £100.

As good arsenic widening the eligibility of the payment, Ms Somerville besides announced a further £20 cardinal for the Scottish Welfare Fund and the aforesaid magnitude for Warmer Homes Scotland successful this fiscal year.

The Scottish Government, she said, has been forced to “mitigate” decisions made by the UK Government, adding: “There has been change, but that alteration is that we are present mitigating against a Labour Government and not a Tory one.

“We person not taken this determination lightly, fixed the important pressures connected the Scottish Government’s budget, but this Scottish Government is determined to enactment existent to our values.

“On our watch, we volition dainty radical successful this state with fairness, dignity and respect.

“We volition not wantonness older radical this winter, oregon so immoderate winter, and we volition proceed to support our pensioners from the harsh world of a UK Labour Government.”