Check if you're eligible

You can use the eligibility checker to find out:

• if you’re eligible
• how much you might be paid

Using this eligibility checker is not part of the application process. You may still need to apply.

Use the eligibility checker

You can use it for yourself or someone else. Find out more about acting on someone else’s behalf.

Who is eligible

Social Security Scotland looks at your situation during a specific week to see if you’re eligible. This is called the qualifying week.

To be eligible, you must have:

• been born on, or before, 21 September 1959
• lived in Scotland on at least the last day of the qualifying week

Who is not eligible

You will not be eligible if you:

• were in hospital getting free treatment for the whole qualifying week and the 52 weeks leading up to it
• were in custody, under a sentence imposed by a court, for the whole qualifying week
• need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says you cannot claim public funds

If you live in residential care

You will not be eligible for winter 2025 to 2026 if all these apply to you:

• you were in residential care for the whole qualifying week
• you went into care before 23 June 2025
• you got any of these benefits during the qualifying week:
  • Pension Credit
  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Income Support
  • Universal Credit

To be eligible, you still need to:

• be born on, or before, 21 September 1959
• live in Scotland