Funding is also available from the Scottish Government, Energy Company Obligation (ECO) and Warm Homes Fund for those looking to implement energy efficiency measures within their home such as adding loft, cavity or External Wall Insulation to reduce heat loss and save on annual energy bills. For those experiencing fuel insecurities, the scheme is available to low income households who are entitled to Council Tax Reduction (CTR) and for those without recourse to public funds. Learn how your comment data is processed. Mr Stone queried why it did not state the payment could be claimed by speaking to an advisor over the phone using the councils welfare support line. Fuel Support Fund for low income Highland households experiencing fuel insecurities. The new Household Support Fund will support millions of households in England and will be distributed by councils in England, who know their local areas best and can directly help those who. Highland Council has unanimously agreed to provide almost 3 million to help households in fuel poverty in the Highlands this winter. He said more than 3,000 eligible people could be denied the money in February, in part as a result of the councils decision not to offer a telephone number. Aberdeen Journals Ltd 2023. On 29 October 2021, the Scottish Government announced a 41m Winter Support Fund for low-income families which includes 10m nationally to help those struggling to pay their fuel bills. The good news is that we still have some funding left and we are very eager to make sure this gets to households in need. For example, 62% of the properties currently signed up for the 2022/23 air source heat pump programme are classed as extreme fuel poor. At the end of October, the Scottish Government announced a 41 million Winter Support Fund for low-income families which includes 10m nationally to help those struggling to pay their fuel bills. A spokesman said: The Fuel Support Fund was established at the councils discretion using around 1m from the Scottish Governments Winter Support Fund and 2.24m from the councils reserves, to help mitigate the impacts of significant energy price and cost of living increases for hard pressed Highland residents. Mr Stone quizzed local authority officials after a constituent without access to a computer or smartphone had to ask a neighbour for assistance. Highland Council and SSE Renewables team up to offer support to those facing extreme fuel poverty02 Dec 2022. All Rights Reserved. It has offered the Highland Council 1 million of grant funding to be spent over 2022/23 and 2023/24 with the option to extend funding to 2024/25 if necessary. Households in the Highland who are on low income and experiencing fuel insecurities as a result of COVID-19 can apply for a Fuel Support Fund from The Highland Council. More than 200 warm winter duvets have also been distributed. Households in the Highland who are on low income and experiencing fuel insecurities as a result of COVID-19 can apply for a Fuel Support Fund from The Highland Council. We had contact with one mum who had been very distressed about the cost of energy and providing for her children. Households are continuing to provide their details by various channels including the online form on the councils website, by visiting a council service or access point and by contacting their local Citizens Advice Bureau or the councils welfare team.. Applications for the fuel support fund can be made online via the councils website at or by calling the welfare support team on 0800 090 1004. Enquire through our Energy Efficient Scotland pagefor more information. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Fuel Support Fund - Highland Third Sector Interface | Facebook All rights reserved. Fuel Support Fund for low income - The Highland Council | Facebook Highland families bolstered by Albyn fuel fund More than 900 households have also taken up the option of a home energy health check from their local Citizens Advice. All applicants will be offered a referral to Citizens Advice (CAB) for energy checks and expertise available from CAB as this may help to reduce domestic fuel bills. Highland Council Fuel Support Fund | Farr Primary School Households in the Highlands who are on low income and experiencing fuel insecurities as a result of COVID-19 can apply for a Fuel Support Fund from the Highland Council. The funding will be used exclusively to support Highland households in extreme fuel poverty. Crisis Grants for fuel support are already available via the Scottish Welfare Fund for those in crisis. Council leader Councillor Margaret Davidson said: Sadly, as a result of Covid-19, an increasing number of households in Highland are experiencing fuel insecurities. The 270,000 Fuel Support Fund has been set up by the Council using Scottish Government funding which can be used flexibly to alleviate financial insecurities. Due to rising costs in energy prices, it is anticipated that these figures will increase significantly. The 270,000 Fuel Support Fund has been set up by the Council using Scottish Government funding which can be used flexibly to alleviate financial insecurities. CAB Energy Advisers can be contacted on 01463 237664. People on low incomes who are experiencing fuel insecurities can apply online here for a 60 non-repayable cash payment per application which is made to eligible applicants. The scheme has this week received vital grant support from SSE Renewables Highland Sustainable Development Fund, which will provide additional funds to reduce or remove entirely householder contributions for those in extreme fuel poverty. Highland Council has therefore decided to use part of the Governments funding to set up a fuel support fund for those who are having difficulties paying for fuel for their homes.. Highland Council has therefore decided to use part of the Governments funding to set up a fuel support fund for those who are having difficulties paying for fuel for their homes.. Households in the Highland who are on low income and experiencing fuel insecurities as a result of COVID-19 can apply for a Fuel Support Fund from The Highland Council. Automatically populate forms with your details. Thousands could lose out on cash over Highland Council digital demand Albyn Housing Society have been using the contact with tenants to highlight other sources of support too, including those provided by the Highland Council and their local Citizens Advice Bureau. Highland Park, . You can also get further advice about Welfare. Could you spare five minutes of your time to complete our survey, it will help us improve customer experience. A link has been emailed to you - check your inbox. We will do our best to provide you with the support you need.. 2023- Highland News and Media Ltd. All rights reserved. Full details including online application https://www.highland.gov.uk . Low income . But the answer cannot be to make it harder for people to claim the support they are entitled to.. Highland Council Fuel Support Fund | Obsdale Primary School Low Crisis Grants for fuel support are already available via the Scottish Welfare Fund for those in crisis. Fuel Support Fund Households in the Highland who are on low income and experiencing fuel insecurities as a result of COVID-19 can apply for a Fuel Support Fund from The Highland Council:. Low income . CAB Energy Advisers can be contacted on 01463 237664. This included air fryers, slow cookers, microwaves and energy efficient kettles. Councillor Margaret Davidson, council leader, said: Sadly, as a result of Covid-19, an increasing number of households in Highland are experiencing fuel insecurities. Change). Could you spare five minutes of your time to complete our survey, it will help us improve customer experience. The Highland Council letter, sent to over 16,000 eligible constituents, stated: To receive your 180 payment, you must complete our online form.. Alternatively, you can email [emailprotected] for further information or telephone Home Energy Scotland for free on 0808 808 2282 for impartial energy advice, to discuss funding options currently available and assess your eligibility for the scheme. Cllr Bremner also highlighted that the scheme is open to all owner occupier and privately rented properties who meet eligibility criteria and encouraged members of the public to make inquiries about the scheme. nonpartisan community newsroom that relies on reader support to fuel its independent local journalism. Highland Council and SSE Renewables to offer support to those facing The council will automatically make the March payments, increasing the total grant payment to 120. The funding will be used exclusively to support Highland households in extreme fuel poverty. Households are advised to contact their energy supplier to check eligibility. Figures also estimate that 22% of Highland households are facing extreme fuel poverty. Highland Council and SSE Renewables team up to offer support to those Large sections of the Highland population do not have access to mains gas and are reliant on more expensive sources of domestic heating such as oil, wood, coal, and wood pellets. Scottish Housing News is your daily service for the latest news, jobs and events, delivered directly to your email inbox. In addition, Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has a specialist team of Energy Advisors who can undertake a range of energy checks which are designed to help with reducing domestic fuel bills. Kirsty Morrison, group chief executive of Albyn Housing Society, said: Feedback from tenants about the Fuel Support Fund has been great so far. A third of households in Highland Council area experiencing fuel poverty Councillor Matthew Reiss, vice chairman of the councils corporate resources committee, said 5,400 applications had been received in total. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The EES:ABS grant and new funding will be used to reduce/remove household contributions on a . 2023- Highland News and Media Ltd. All rights reserved. The 270,000 Fuel Support Fund has been set up by the council using Scottish Government funding which can be used flexibly to alleviate financial insecurities. Households in the Highlands who are on low income and experiencing fuel insecurities as a result of COVID-19 can apply for a Fuel Support Fund from the Highland Council. George Mitchell: Should we have the right to die? Draught proofing kits, carpets, and thermal curtains and door fittings have been provided to help keep homes warm. To enable payments to be made to all those eligible, it has been necessary to collect details from some households. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Hundreds of Highland households worried about rising fuel bills and the cost of living have been given much needed support from Albyn Housing Society this winter, through the housing association's Fuel Support Fund. With inflation threatening to spiral out of control and fuel bills. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The 270,000 Fuel Support Fund has been set up by the Council using Scottish Government funding which can be used flexibly to alleviate financial insecurities. Government launches 500m support for vulnerable households over winter The Fund has offered Highland Council 1m of grant funding to be spent over 2022/23 and 2023/24 with the option to extend funding to 2024/25 if necessary. The low energy cooking solutions have been really popular, helping households to have a hot meal at a lower cost. Highland Council is set to receive an allocation from this fund in order to mitigate the fuel challenges faced by residents in the region. Funding from Scottish Government grant covers the cost of the installation, in the most part, although some works may require a household contribution to meet the shortfall between installation cost and funding available. All applicants will be offered a referral to Citizens Advice (CAB) for energy checks and expertise available from CAB as this may help to reduce domestic fuel bills. Fuel Support Fund for low income Highland - The Highland Council All Rights Reserved. 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Enquire throughwww.highland.gov.uk/energyefficientscotlandfor more information. If agreed, a payment of 180 would be made to around 16,440 eligible Highland households where residents are in receipt of means-tested council tax reduction. Using Covid-19 funding from the Scottish Government the council can make a 60 grant per household to help those who have been awarded council tax reduction and are having difficulties paying their fuel bills. 33% of households in Highland are experiencing fuel poverty compared to the national average of 24% and 22% of all households in Highland are facing extreme fuel poverty, which is nearly double the national average, at 12%. Low Where appropriate, eligible applicants will be awarded a grant from the Scottish Welfare Fund before being considered for a grant from the local Fuel Support Fund. It was therefore not feasible to include their number on the letters., Despite the letters stating residents must make their claim online, the council added: Customers who prefer to make contact by telephone can use one of our many telephone numbers that are well established and freely available.. Council leader Councillor Margaret Davidson said: "Sadly, as a result of Covid-19, an increasing number of households in Highland are experiencing fuel insecurities. It is clear to us that this fund is making a real difference. As well as providing a 245 voucher for her energy bills, we were also able to supply an air fryer, a more energy efficient kettle and winter duvets for her young family. (LogOut/ Highland Council to consider support for households living in fuel Crisis Grants for fuel support are already available via the Scottish Welfare Fund for those in crisis. Households in the Highlands who are on low income and experiencing fuel insecurities as a result of Covid-19 can apply for a Fuel Support Fund grant from Highland Council. The Councils Head of Revenues and Business Support will therefore look at these claims on an individual basis so that awards can be made to those who are eligible.. Full details including online application https://www.highland.gov.uk . The significant recent increases in fuel prices will place even greater pressures on an increased number of Highland residents. 3 million approved by Highland Council to help those in fuel poverty By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies -. Highland Council is proposing to use an allocation from this fund together with 2m from reserves in order to mitigate the fuel challenges faced by Highland residents this winter. Fuel Support Fund | Duncan Forbes Primary School On 26 January 2022, you had a personal exemption from Council Tax on the grounds that you were a student. It is crucial that we encourage as many people as possible to sign up to the Energy Efficiency Scotland Area Based Scheme to benefit from grant funding to carry out energy efficiency improvements to their homes, improving comfort levels and attempt to minimise the impact of rising fuel costs.
highland council fuel support fund