Winter Payments Welfare Advice boosts increased benefits awarded
Households in the Inverness Area have benefited significantly from Welfare Advice received by Highland Council Officers when applying for the Inverness Winter Payment Scheme.
Leader of Inverness and Area, Councillor Ian Brown explained: “Councillors have agreed to continue the Inverness Common Good Fund Winter Payments Scheme for 2025/26 which will provide financial support to eligible households when extra fuel is needed to keep homes warm during the winter months. The scheme is aimed at anyone on a low income of all ages and not just pensioners.”
He added: “We have heard today of examples where the Winter Payments Scheme has brought major financial boosts of 3 figure sums to some households through engagement with the Council’s Welfare Advice Team. Council officers, in discussion with households have been able to identify other benefits they are eligible for to help improve their quality of life. I would like to commend the Council’s Welfare Advice Team for the continuous excellent service they provide to our communities.
“I encourage anyone who is entitled to benefits to claim them or ask for help in claiming them if they feel they cannot apply.”
Councillors have agreed £0.237m Inverness Common Good Funding for the Inverness Winter Payments Discretionary Scheme for 2025/26 of £115 per eligible household in addition to the financial support already available to some households from Social Security Scotland, Pension Age Winter Heating Payment and other sources.
Members agreed to apply a Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase to the £111 award rate for 2024/25 resulting in this year’s higher total of £115.
Inverness Common Good Funding can only be used where regard has been given to benefiting people living within the geographic area of the former Burgh of Inverness.
Over 1,600 households in Inverness benefitted from the much-needed Scheme last winter 2024/25 - which was available to eligible people within the 7 specified Inverness Wards of Aird and Loch Ness, Inverness West, Inverness Central, Inverness Ness-side, Inverness Millburn, Culloden and Ardersier and Inverness South.
During winter 2024/25 the scheme made 1,687 payments of £111 totalling £187,257 to eligible people on low incomes to help them with their winter fuel bills.
The ‘Worrying About Money Guide’ covers information for people waiting for claims to be assessed as well as those already receiving benefits. Topics including advice on what to do if anyone finds themselves having a sudden loss of income or if their statutory sick pay does not cover their living expenses. There is also information on how to apply to the Scottish Welfare Fund, maximising income and benefit advice, debt advice and how to challenge a decision.
The Worrying About Money Guide is available on the Highland Council website at: https://www.highland.gov.uk/directory_record/102970/benefit_advice
The 2024/25 Inverness Winter Payment Scheme is now closed. Members have agreed that the 2025/26 scheme will open for new applications from 1 December 2025 to 31 March 2026 inclusive.