Home heating support to target ‘self-rationing’

A £4 million support fund has been launched to help Scots struggling with their energy bills during the Covid lockdown.

The Scottish government scheme, 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 made directly to energy suppliers on behalf of the customers.

Individuals who cannot access a nationwide referral partner can contact Advice Direct Scotland free on 08088 009060 or visit www.advice.scot.

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

Targeted funding will reflect individual circumstances, with extra support for households where one person is over 75, relies on electric heating, or lives in a remote or island community.

Eligibility is based on households which are ‘self-rationing’ their energy so that they can afford to spend on other goods or services. Any households which are ‘off-supply’ and are not eligible for the fund should seek support from their energy supplier or organisations which can refer them to the Fuel Bank Foundation.