As the nights draw in, many households in Scotland start to worry about heating. For people new to the country, the worry can be greater: bills can be hard to understand, and it is not always clear what support exists or who to ask.

This guide explains the main ways to get help with energy bills in Scotland this winter, from one-off payments and bill discounts to free advice and emergency support. It is general information, not financial or legal advice. Rules and amounts can change, so always check the official pages linked below or speak to a free advice service about your own situation.

It is also timely. Challenge Poverty Week, coordinated by the Poverty Alliance, runs from Monday 5 to Sunday 11 October 2026, a week when organisations across Scotland focus on practical action against poverty.

What is happening with energy prices this winter

Most households who have not chosen a fixed deal are on a standard variable tariff, which is limited by the energy price cap set by the regulator, Ofgem. According to Ofgem, the cap rose by 4% on 1 October 2026. For a typical household paying for gas and electricity by Direct Debit, that is the equivalent of £1,723 a year, about £60 a year more than over the summer.

The price cap limits what you pay for each unit of energy and the daily standing charge. It does not limit your total bill, so the more energy you use, the more you pay. Ofgem is due to announce the next cap, for January to March 2027, by 25 November 2026.

Start with your energy supplier

If you are struggling to pay, or think you might soon, contact your energy supplier as early as you can. mygov.scot advises that suppliers will work with you to agree a payment plan based on what you can afford, and can give advice on using less energy.

Several large suppliers also run hardship funds or grants for their own customers, so ask yours what it offers.

Join the Priority Services Register

The Priority Services Register is a free list kept by energy suppliers and network operators of people who may need extra help. Ofgem says you can ask to join if, for example, you:

• have reached State Pension age
• are pregnant or have young children
• struggle with speaking or reading English
• live with a disability or a long-term health condition, including mental health conditions
• have recently lost your job, been bereaved or come out of hospital

Help can include priority support in an emergency, advance notice of planned power cuts where possible, a password scheme so you know a visitor is genuine, and the option to nominate a trusted person to receive your bills. If your gas and electricity come from different suppliers, you need to contact each one.

Payments and discounts you may be entitled to

Scotland has its own social security agency, Social Security Scotland, which pays several winter benefits that are different from those in England and Wales. Most of these payments are made automatically if you qualify.

Warm Home Discount

The Warm Home Discount is £150 taken off your electricity bill over winter. It is not paid to you as cash. According to GOV.UK, for winter 2026 to 2027 you may be eligible if, on 23 August 2026, your supplier was part of the scheme, your name (or your partner’s) was on the electricity bill, and you or your partner got certain means-tested benefits.

Some people, such as those getting Pension Credit, get the discount automatically. Others need to apply directly to their electricity supplier, which may have its own extra criteria. GOV.UK says the scheme reopens in October 2026, so it is worth contacting your supplier if you think you qualify.

Winter Heating Payment

Winter Heating Payment replaced Cold Weather Payment in Scotland. It is a single payment, currently £62, for people on certain low-income benefits such as Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance and income-related Employment and Support Allowance (some benefits have extra conditions). It is paid from December, does not depend on how cold the weather is, and does not affect your other benefits.

Child Winter Heating Payment

Child Winter Heating Payment helps families of disabled children and young people with higher heating costs. The current payment is £265.50, paid once a year from October. Most families who qualify do not need to apply.

Pension Age Winter Heating Payment

For people of State Pension age, Pension Age Winter Heating Payment has replaced Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland. mygov.scot says eligible people could get between £105.55 and £316.70. For winter 2026 to 2027 you must have been born on or before 27 June 1960 and have lived in Scotland on at least the last day of the qualifying week (21 to 27 September 2026). Letters are being sent from November 2026.

Two points matter for many New Scots. First, you are not eligible if your permission to be in the UK says you cannot claim public funds. Second, if your individual income is over £35,000, HMRC will take the payment back.

If you have no recourse to public funds

Many winter payments are linked to benefits, so they are not available to people whose visa carries a “no recourse to public funds” (NRPF) condition. Our guide to navigating the NRPF rule explains what this condition means.

That does not mean there is no help at all. Talking to your supplier, joining the Priority Services Register and getting free energy advice are not benefits, and you can ask about supplier hardship funds. If you are unsure whether a particular payment counts as public funds, get independent immigration advice before applying, because claiming the wrong thing could affect your status.

If you live in asylum accommodation

If you are seeking asylum and live in Home Office dispersal accommodation, GOV.UK guidance says gas, water and electricity are provided for you and you must not change the energy supplier.

The same guidance lists heating that is not working as a serious fault. The accommodation provider should make it safe within 24 hours and carry out a permanent repair within five working days. Report problems to Migrant Help on 0808 8010 503. If you smell gas, call the gas emergency number, 0800 111 999, straight away and then tell Migrant Help.

Help in an emergency

If you face a sudden crisis and cannot heat your home, the Scottish Welfare Fund may help. Its Crisis Grant can help with an unexpected emergency, and mygov.scot notes it can cover heating costs in a disaster or emergency. You must be 16 or over and on a low income or getting certain benefits. You apply through your local council, and the grant does not need to be paid back.

If you use a prepayment meter and cannot afford to top up, mygov.scot says the Fuel Bank Foundation can help with money for your meter. Support is arranged through its registered partner organisations, so ask a local advice service whether there is one near you.

Make your home warmer for less

Home Energy Scotland is funded by the Scottish Government and gives free, impartial advice on keeping warm and cutting energy bills. You can call free on 0808 808 2282 (Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, and Saturdays and bank holidays 9am to 5pm) or use WhatsApp. It says information is available in translation on request, and you can contact it on behalf of someone else with their permission.

Home Energy Scotland can also check whether you qualify for Warmer Homes Scotland. This Scottish Government programme offers support worth £10,000 or more for heating and insulation improvements to eligible homeowners and private tenants who are struggling to heat their homes and meet criteria such as receiving certain benefits. If you rent, it also helps to know your rights as a tenant. Our guide to Scottish tenancy rights is a good starting point.

Where to get free, independent advice

The Scottish Government funds several free energy advice services:

• Home Energy Scotland: 0808 808 2282, for advice on keeping warm, saving energy and home improvement funding.
• Advice Direct Scotland (Energy Advice Scotland): 0808 196 8660, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, for problems with your supplier, complaints or bills.
• Citizens Advice Scotland: 0800 028 1456, or your local bureau, for help with payment plans, debt and checking which benefits you can claim. Its Money Talk Team service can check you are not paying too much for gas or electricity.

If you are in Glasgow, our round-up of free and affordable support services in Glasgow lists other places to turn.

A word about scams

Fraudsters sometimes use winter support schemes as a cover. Be wary of unexpected calls, texts or emails asking for bank details or a fee to “unlock” a payment. If in doubt, hang up and contact the organisation using the number on its official website or on your energy bill.

Conclusion

Energy bills are a real worry for many families in Scotland, and newcomers can face extra barriers in finding help. The most useful first steps are simple: speak to your supplier early, ask to join the Priority Services Register, check whether you qualify for the Warm Home Discount and Social Security Scotland’s winter payments, and contact a free advice service if you are unsure.

Nobody should feel embarrassed about asking for help to stay warm. If you know someone who is new to Scotland, sharing this guide could make a real difference this winter.

Featured image: AI-generated illustration (no real people, places or events shown).

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