Pumping in fuel poverty funds

Almost £1 million is available to support young households in North Lanarkshire who are struggling with fuel poverty, which is defined as spending more than ten per cent of household income after rent or mortgage on fuel bills.

Around 31,000 people in the area are experiencing fuel poverty, and this funding will target residents aged 16 to 24 due to other groups already getting support with fuel bills through other benefits.

Eligible residents will be householders of the above age range, in fuel poverty and in receipt of a council tax discount, have less than £700 savings or no recourse to public funds.

All applicants will be offered free income maximisation checks to ensure they are getting all benefits to which they are entitled and considered for crisis loans.

The applications process is expected to go live in January with the first payments going out in the third week of February.

The money is part of the Scottish Government’s Tackling Insecurity funding programme and this funding initiative was approved by North Lanarkshire Council’s community empowerment committee.