Energy / Heating oil support opens up to island households
HOUSEHOLDS struggling with the rising cost of heating oil and liquid petroleum gas (LPG) are now able to apply for £300 of support.
The Scottish Government’s Emergency Heating Oil Scheme is available to users of both heating oil and LPG who are struggling with recent price increases due to the war in Iran.
The scheme, which will be administered by Advice Direct Scotland, is envisaged to run for up to six months with two opportunities to apply during that period.
Applications opened on Wednesday, with homeowners having to provide a number of different details to Home Heating Advice Scotland online.
Applicants must provide proof they are the billpayer, that their address is their main home, proof of fuel type and proof of a recent or planned fuel purchase.
Those who receive a qualifying low-income benefit, such as universal credit or pension credit, must provide proof of this when applying.
And those applying under discretionary eligibility, must provide proof of “financial hardship” and evidence of a medical need or a change in “financial or personal circumstances”.
The scheme is focusing on low-income households, including those in receipt of means-tested social security.
However it is also be open to applications from people who have unavoidable additional heating needs and may face hardship, including people with disabilities or those at risk of self-rationing fuel.
Around seven per cent of households in Scotland rely on oil or LPG, with rural and island areas – such as Shetland – disproportionately affected.
It is estimated that approximately 142,000 Scottish households use heating oil and around 27,000 use LPG.
The UK Government announced £4.6 million in support for Scotland last month, which the Scottish Government more than doubled to £10 million.
You can apply here.
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