Apply for help with energy bills

Households in Wishaw can now apply directly to a £4 million Scottish Government fund to help them with soaring energy bills.

Help is available via Advice Direct Scotland for individuals who are cutting back on their fuel use to pay for essential items such as food.

Applicants to the Home Heating Support Fund will need to provide evidence they have received advice from an accredited debt or energy advice agency.

Registrations for help can be made until the end of this month, and more than 400 charities, organisations and advisers have already signed up as

“referral partners” so they can make applications on behalf of their clients. This will remain the best way for most people to access support.

But for households which have not already applied via a referral partner and have basic digital skills, an online application can be made which requires evidence of energy bills and proof of financial difficulties.

The application form is available at https://homeheatingadvice.scot/ household-registration/

Anyone struggling with t he application can contact Advice Direct Scotland advisers for free on 0808 800 9060, who can also make applications to the fund on their behalf.

Targeted funding from the Home Heating Support Fund will reflect each individual’s circumstances, with extra support available for households where one person is over 75, living with a disability or illness, and/or living 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 essentials. Payments can be for electricity, oil, gas, LPG, coal or other forms of heating, and are made directly to the supplier.