This content applies to Scotland only.

Housing laws vary between Scotland and England. Get advice relating to England

This page looks at ways you can reduce the amount you spend on heating during the cold winter months. If you are elderly, disabled or on a low income, you may be able to get some help to pay your bills - this page offers a brief overview of possible sources of financial help.

Saving on bills

Heating your home can be expensive. However, there are things you can do to keep warmth in, cold out and fuel bills down.

• Draw the curtains as soon as it's dusk to keep in warmth.
• Install draught excluders and seal up any gaps (although be careful not to seal up any ventilation flues or gaps).
• Line radiators on external walls with tin foil to reflect the warmth into the room.
• Don't cover radiators with curtains or washing.
• Consider switching to a cheaper gas and/or electricity supplier. Websites such as uSwitch or Saveonyourbills.co.uk allow you to compare prices. You can find out more about changing suppliers at the Consumer Focus website.

The page on energy saving measures has more suggestions.

Help to pay for insulation and central heating installation

You may be able to get a grant or other assistance from the carbon emissions reduction target, to help pay to insulate your home. If you are aged 60 or over or have children and are on a low income, you may be eligible for a grant from the Scottish Government's energy assistance package to help pay for insulation and draught proofing or to get central heating installed.

Cold weather payments

Some people who receive income support, income based jobseeker's allowance, employment and support allowance or pension credit are entitled to a cold weather payment from the social fund. These payments are made if the weather becomes exceptionally cold (0° or below) for seven consecutive days or more. Payments should be made automatically with your benefits. Find out if you qualify at the Jobcentre Plus website or by calling the Jobcentre Plus telephone line on 0800 0 55 66 88 or textphone 0800 0 23 48 88 (this is a service for hearing impaired people, and doesn't accept texts).

You can find out more about cold weather payments at the Direct.gov website. 

Winter fuel payments

If you are aged 60 or over, you should receive an annual winter fuel payment, to help with the costs of keeping warm during winter. If you are getting the state retirement pension or some welfare benefits you should be sent these payments automatically. Otherwise, you may have to claim your first winter fuel payment. You can find out more about the winter fuel payment, how to claim and what to do if you haven't been sent one at the Pension Service's winter fuel payments website.

Help from the social fund

Some people may be eligible to apply for a budgeting loan, crisis loan or community care grant from the social fund. These can be used to:

• buy essential household goods such as a heater
• buy coal, oil or bottled gas
• install a pre-payment meter to help control your fuel consumption
• have your electricity or gas reconnected.

Trusts and company schemes

Some utility companies provide hardship schemes to help people on low incomes who are struggling to pay their gas, electricity or water bills. Visit the British Gas Energy Trust website to find out if the company that supplies your gas, water or electricity offers such a scheme, and if so, how you can apply.

Other sources of help

Home Heat Helpline

The Home Heat Helpline is a free phone helpline run by gas and electricity suppliers. It offers advice on a range of problems, including energy saving and how to stay warm in cold weather. Advisers can also help you if you are having problems paying your gas or electricity bills, and can make sure that supply is not disconnected if you are elderly, disabled or having severe money problems. Interpreters are also available if English is not your first language.

You can call the Home Heat Helpline on 0800 33 66 99.

Local voluntary organisations

If you are elderly, disabled or vulnerable in some way, you may be able to get a grant or charitable payment from a local voluntary organisation. An adviser at Citizens Advice may be able to put you in touch with an organisation which can help you.

Age Concern Scotland

Age Concern Scotland produces a useful information pack with more information about paying for heating if you're retired or elderly.

energyplus Care

energyplus Care is a special tariff available to Scottish and Southern Energy customers (this includes Scottish Hydro Electric, Southern Electric, SWALEC and Atlantic). You can apply for this tariff if you're worried about being cold because you can't afford to heat your home due to acute health, housing or income issues.

The service includes:

• 20 per cent discount on energy prices
• free energy efficiency advice
• free energy efficiency measures to help you save energy, such as low energy light bulbs
• a benefits entitlement check.

An energy efficiency adviser will assess your situation to work out whether or not you qualify for the tariff.

If you're a Scottish and Southern Energy customer and you think this may apply to you, call 0845 678 0045 to find out more.