Energy support fund is now available

A £4million support fund has been launched which can help East Kilbride and Strathaven residents struggling with their energy bills during the COVID lockdown.

The Scottish Government scheme, which will be administered by national advice service Advice Direct Scotland, is designed to prevent households falling into fuel poverty.

The Home Heating Support Fund is open until March 31 and applications can only be made on behalf of individuals by‘referral partners’through homeheatingadvice.scot.

This includes local authorities and third sector organisations, with payments then made directly to energy suppliers on behalf of their customers.

Their expert debt advisers will assess eligibility and apply for funding on the individual’s behalf if appropriate.

Targeted funding will reflect each individual’s circumstances, with extra support available for households where one person is over 75, they rely on electric heating, or live in a remote or island community.

Eligibility is based on households which are‘self-rationing’their energy, meaning those who are deliberately limiting their energy use so that they can afford to spend money on other goods or services.

This could be as a result of home-working or home-schooling due to the pandemic.

Any households which are‘off-supply’are not eligible for the fund, and should seek support from their energy supplier or organisations which can refer them to the Fuel Bank Foundation.

In 2019, an estimated 24.6 per cent of all households were in fuel poverty - around 613,000 households – and the pandemic has increased financial hardship for many.

Local authorities and housing associations across the country have also been invited to register.

Andrew Bartlett, chief executive of Advice Direct Scotland, said:“No household should suffer in fuel poverty or have to ration fuel to get by.

“The COVID pandemic has increased financial hardship and many Scots have been left struggling as a result of increased energy costs while working from home or home-schooling.”

Individuals who are not able to access a nationwide referral partner can contact Advice Direct Scotland for free on 0808 800 9060 or visit www.advice.scot.