Stuart McMillan MSP has welcomed a new home heating support fund that will help Scots struggling with their energy bills amid a growing cost-of-living crisis.
The £3 million Scottish Government scheme, administered by national advice service Advice Direct Scotland, is designed to prevent households falling into fuel poverty and help those ‘rationing’ their energy use.
The Home Heating Support Fund is open until 31 March 2022 and applications can only be made on behalf of individuals by referral partners through homeheatingadvice.scot.
Local authorities and housing associations, as well as charities and organisations that provide energy or debt advice, are encouraged to register online so that they can seek funding for people they support.
Individuals cannot apply directly, but they should contact Advice Direct Scotland for free on 0808 800 9060 or visit www.advice.scot, and trained advisers can assess their eligibility and refer them if appropriate. Even if they are not eligible, Advice Direct Scotland can offer free advice on energy and debt issues.
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, they rely on electric heating, or live in a remote or island community.
Payments start at £100, rising to £500 to clear outstanding debt, with the money paid directly to suppliers on behalf of the household.
Eligibility is based on households that 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 that are ‘off-supply’ are not eligible for the fund, and should seek immediate support from their energy supplier or organisations that can refer them to the Fuel Bank Foundation.
Commenting, Stuart said:
“A 2021 poll found that nearly a third of Scots had rationed their energy use so they could afford to spend money on other goods and services. With recent price rises and a further steep increase in bills expected in spring, combined with the UK Government’s welfare cuts, the Scottish Government have launched this fund to try to support households facing fuel poverty.
“Advice Direct Scotland offer free energy advice and can refer people to this fund, so if you are struggling, please call 0808 800 9060 or visit www.advice.scot. If you’re already seeking energy support from a local organisation or charity, contact them first as they can refer you to the fund once they’ve registered with Advice Direct Scotland.
“I want to encourage as many local organisations to register so they can refer people in Inverclyde in need of this assistance. I will be registering to ensure that my staff and I can refer anyone who contacts my office.”
Andrew Bartlett, chief executive of Advice Direct Scotland, said:
“As the country recovers from the Covid pandemic and its economic impact, this fund will prove absolutely crucial in ensuring that households who have been hit the hardest can continue to heat their homes and feed their families.
“With recent energy price rises and more on the horizon, we know that many Scots are facing financial difficulties at the moment.
“Last year, we discovered that families were rationing energy such as only heating one room, and this fund is designed to ensure that people do not have to make that choice.
“Our unique experience and infrastructure at Advice Direct Scotland guarantees our capability to ensure that financial support reaches consumers facing financial hardship, while our nationwide network allows us to deliver this vital service and ensure that all households in Scotland suffering from fuel poverty can receive the help they need.”
