The legislation extends the eligibility for the Child Winter Heating assistance to young people aged 16 to 18 in receipt of the enhanced daily living component of PIP (Personal Independence Payment).

If the legislation is passed, 5,000 additional families will receive the payments, which will also be backdated to last year when the payment was introduced.

Child Winter Heating Assistance is an annual payment of £202 to help families of a child or young person on certain disability benefits to heat their homes during the winter months. It is already available to those in receipt of the highest rated care component of Disability Living Allowance.

Shona Robison, social justice secretary, said: “This extra money helps families of seriously disabled children and young people with the additional costs associated with heating their homes for longer periods.

“The Child Winter Heating Assistance is one of seven brand new benefits we have used using social security powers. I’m pleased that by extending eligibility, more than 5,000 more families will benefit from this £202 payment during the colder months.

“Getting this money to families automatically in winter will help them budget and balance the many financial pressures that they can face at this time of year.”