Could you spare five minutes of your time to complete our survey, it will help us improve customer experience. Using COVID-19 funding from the Scottish Government, this non-repayable grant provides a 60 payment per household for those who have been awarded council tax reduction and are having difficulties paying their fuel bills. Highland Council has therefore decided to use part of the Governments funding to set up a fuel support fund for those who are having difficulties paying for fuel for their homes.. 2023- Highland News and Media Ltd. All rights reserved. CAB Energy Advisers can be contacted on 01463 237664. SSE re-invest part of the profits from wind farms back into local communities. Mr Stone queried why it did not state the payment could be claimed by speaking to an advisor over the phone using the councils welfare support line. It is clear to us that this fund is making a real difference. Where appropriate, eligible applicants will be awarded a grant from the Scottish Welfare Fund before being considered for a grant from the local Fuel Support Fund. Council tax rules mean that there are some individuals on a low income who are exempt from council tax and therefore not entitled to council tax reduction. Crisis Grants for fuel support are already available via the Scottish Welfare Fund for those in crisis. The 270,000 Fuel Support Fund has been set up by the Council using Scottish Government funding which can be used flexibly to alleviate financial insecurities. Highland Council and SSE Renewables team up to offer support to those facing extreme fuel poverty02 Dec 2022. Highland Council said it did not comment on individual cases. People on low incomes who are experiencing fuel insecurities can apply online for a 60 non-repayable cash payment per application which is made to eligible applicants. This comes in addition to other support mechanisms, such as the 400 discount to energy bills from the UK Government over the winter months. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Leader of The Highland Council Cllr Margaret Davidson said: Sadly, as a result of Covid-19, an increasing number of households in Highland are experiencing fuel insecurities. With just two days until the deadline, only 81% of eligible householders have claimed the payment. All Rights Reserved. Homes at Craig Road in Dingwall managed by Albyn Housing Society. Full details including online application https://www.highland.gov.uk/fuelsupportfund, The councils Welfare Support Team provide free, impartial and confidential support to claim all entitlements including the Fuel Support Fund. If agreed, a payment of 180 would be made to around 16,440 eligible Highland households where residents are in receipt of means-tested council tax reduction. Hundreds of Highland households worried about rising fuel bills and the cost of living have been given much needed support from Albyn Housing Society this winter, through the housing association's Fuel Support Fund. At the end of October, the Scottish Government announced a 41 million Winter Support Fund for low-income families which includes 10m nationally to help those struggling to pay their fuel bills. On 26 January 2022, you had a personal exemption from Council Tax on the grounds that you were a student. Sign-up to Scotland's myaccount so you can pay for council services online and report things to us. The SSE Renewable fund is part of the organisations commitment to the Scottish Governments Good Practice Principals for Community Benefits from Onshore Wind. Alternatively, you can email [emailprotected] for further information or telephone Home Energy Scotland for free on 0808 808 2282 for impartial energy advice, to discuss funding options currently available and assess your eligibility for the scheme. Councillor Margaret Davidson, council leader, said: Sadly, as a result of Covid-19, an increasing number of households in Highland are experiencing fuel insecurities. Low income . Households in the Highland who are on low income and experiencing fuel insecurities as a result of COVID-19 can apply for a Fuel Support Fund from The Highland Council. Councillor Davidson added: Working from home has increased the financial pressures for many of our households. Fuel poverty campaigners call for more ambitious targets, Fuel poverty among Scottish households drops by 4%, Fuel poverty initiatives named amongst engineering projects of the future, Fuel poverty strategy must go further to give assurance that Scotland will meet fuel poverty targets. Warm Home Discounts equivalent to 140 per annum off household energy bills are available from some energy suppliers for those on low income. We had contact with one mum who had been very distressed about the cost of energy and providing for her children. I would encourage anyone affected by the stark choices of heating or eating, to seek help and support for a number of providers.. Large sections of the Highland population do not have access to mains gas and are reliant on more expensive sources of domestic heating such as oil, wood, coal, and wood pellets. Cllr Bremner also highlighted that the scheme is open to all owner occupier and privately rented properties who meet eligibility criteria and encouraged members of the public to make inquiries about the scheme. Wherever possible this significant fund, totalling 3.24m, is quickly putting money into peoples pockets without them having to take any action at all, and the majority of eligible households are due to receive their payments next week. Highland Council has therefore decided to use part of the Governments funding to set up a fuel support fund for those who are having difficulties paying for fuel for their homes.. For details on how to sign up for the programme visit Highland Councils dedicated webpage. Cllr Davidson said: Working from home has increased the financial pressures for many of our households. Click here to sign up to our curated newsletters. Mr Stone quizzed local authority officials after a constituent without access to a computer or smartphone had to ask a neighbour for assistance. The Sustainable Development Fund supports strategic projects across the Highland local authority area and allows SSE to direct support to projects that can achieve significant impact in local communities. Due to rising costs in energy prices, it is anticipated that these figures will increase significantly. However, a portion of the fund is helping those who are most in need, regardless of their housing situation. Where appropriate, eligible applicants will be awarded a grant from the Scottish Welfare Fund before being considered for a grant from the local Fuel Support Fund. The Councils head of revenues and business support will therefore look at these claims on an individual basis so that awards can be made to those who are eligible.. The 270,000 Fuel Support Fund (FSF) has been set up by the council using Scottish Government money which can be used flexibly to alleviate financial insecurities. 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Getting in touch with the Welfare Support Team is the first step to maximising your potential income and managing your money well. Mr Stone added: We know our local authorities are under incredible pressure, not least because they have endured years of chronic underfunding from the SNP. Households in the Highlands who are on low income and experiencing fuel insecurities as a result of Covid-19 can apply for a Fuel Support Fund grant from Highland Council. The Fund has offered Highland Council 1m of grant funding to be spent over 2022/23 and 2023/24 with the option to extend funding to 2024/25 if necessary. The funding will help many vulnerable residents benefit from warm, sustainable homes for years to come.". By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies -. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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Leader of Highland Council, Councillor Margaret Davidson, said:In the light of the clear concerns about extreme fuel poverty in Highland communities, it is imperative that we take immediate action to relieve some of the worst impacts this winter. The welfare team have now processed over 86% of eligible people and are continuing to support the remaining households to provide the relevant details to enable the funds to be paid. Enquire through our Energy Efficient Scotland pagefor more information. The Leader of the Council, Cllr Margaret Davidson added Working from home has increased the financial pressures for many of our households. Fuel poverty campaigners call for more ambitious targets, Fuel poverty among Scottish households drops by 4%, Fuel poverty initiatives named amongst engineering projects of the future, Fuel poverty strategy must go further to give assurance that Scotland will meet fuel poverty targets. Kirsty Morrison, group chief executive of Albyn Housing Society, said: Feedback from tenants about the Fuel Support Fund has been great so far. Low income households within Highland experiencing fuel insecurities can apply for a non-repayable 60 grant. The 270,000 Fuel Support Fund has been set up by the Council using Scottish Government funding which can be used flexibly to alleviate financial insecurities. Fuel Support Fund for low income Highland households experiencing fuel insecurities. Change). If you require further help or advice regarding the 180 fuel support payment, please contact us by email fuelsupportpayment@highland.gov.uk. People on low incomes who are experiencing fuel insecurities can apply online here for a 60 non-repayable cash payment per application which is made to eligible applicants. Highland Council is set to receive an allocation from this fund in order to mitigate the fuel challenges faced by residents in the region. Where appropriate, eligible applicants will be awarded a grant from the Scottish Welfare Fund before being considered for a grant from the local Fuel Support Fund. Full details including online application https://www.highland.gov.uk . The scheme will also remain open for new applications to ensure that this support can still be accessed.. If you are an Albyn tenant, and are needing help paying your bills, please do get in touch with us or speak with your housing officer. Council leader Councillor Margaret Davidson said: "Sadly, as a result of Covid-19, an increasing number of households in Highland are experiencing fuel insecurities. In some cases, the energy bill vouchers have been allowing families to pay off their debts. Highland Council and SSE Renewables are joining forces to help Highland households facing extreme fuel poverty make energy saving adaptations to their homes. People on low incomes who are experiencing fuel insecurities can apply online here for a 60 non-repayable cash payment per application which is made to eligible applicants. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Households in the Highland who are on low income and experiencing fuel insecurities as a result of COVID-19 can apply for a Fuel Support Fund from The Highland Council. Could you spare five minutes of your time to complete our survey, it will help us improve customer experience. Thousands of vulnerable people in the north could miss out on cash support to ease the impact of soaring fuel bills after the local authority insisted applications be made online. 2023- Highland News and Media Ltd. All rights reserved. Scottish Housing News is your daily service for the latest news, jobs and events, delivered directly to your email inbox. This included air fryers, slow cookers, microwaves and energy efficient kettles. The Scottish Government grant is available for owner occupiers and private rented properties subject to eligibility (see table below), grant funding cannot be used to cover installation costs for social properties (either Council or Registered Landlord). George Mitchell: Should we have the right to die? All applicants will be offered a referral to Citizens Advice (CAB) for energy checks and expertise available from CAB as this may help to reduce domestic fuel bills. Copyright SSE 2023. The low energy cooking solutions have been really popular, helping households to have a hot meal at a lower cost. Over the last nine years the scheme has leveraged around 34 million of external funding to the Highlands to deliver energy efficiency measures to over 3,100 privately owned and privately rented properties throughout the Highlands. Fuel Support Fund Households in the Highland who are on low income and experiencing fuel insecurities as a result of COVID-19 can apply for a Fuel Support Fund from The Highland Council:. Households in the Highland who are on low income and experiencing fuel insecurities as a result of COVID-19 can apply for a Fuel Support Fund from The Highland Council. A link has been emailed to you - check your inbox. A payment of 180 will now be made to around 16,440 eligible Highland households where residents are in receipt of means-tested council tax reduction. Highland Council is proposing to use an allocation from this fund together with 2m from reserves in order to mitigate the fuel challenges faced by Highland . He added that in response to the unprecedented demand from Highland residents in need of financial and other support, the council has increased welfare staff numbers and set up a dedicated fuel support telephone number, enabling households to call 01349 781990 to provide their details. At a time when bills are skyrocketing, we cannot delay getting this money into the hands of those who need it most.. Households in the Highland who are on low income and experiencing fuel insecurities as a result of COVID-19 can apply for a Fuel Support Fund from The Highland Council. Low Warm Home Discounts equivalent to 140 per annum off household energy bills are available from some energy suppliers for those on low income. A link has been emailed to you - check your inbox. As part of the scheme, more than 300 households have been provided with 230 or more towards their energy bills. Households in the Highland who are on low income and experiencing fuel insecurities as a result of COVID-19 can apply for a Fuel Support Fund from The Highland Council. Cllr Davidson said: Working from home has increased the financial pressures for many of our households. You have received a letter from the Highland Council to advise of your possible entitlement AND on 30 November 2021, you were in receipt of Council Tax Reduction. Using Covid-19 funding from the Scottish Government the council can make a 60 grant per. Applications for a directFuel Support Payment are now closed. The 270,000 Fuel Support Fund has been set up by the council using Scottish Government funding which can be used flexibly to alleviate financial insecurities. Councillor Matthew Reiss, vice chairman of the councils corporate resources committee, said 5,400 applications had been received in total. The good news is that we still have some funding left and we are very eager to make sure this gets to households in need. All Rights Reserved. Highland Council has therefore decided to use part of the Governments funding to set up a fuel support fund for those who are having difficulties paying for fuel for their homes.. Council officials responded: Due to the difficult situation many of our customers currently find themselves in, our welfare team are already working at full capacity to manage the volume of referrals they receive. Enquire throughwww.highland.gov.uk/energyefficientscotlandfor more information. The 270,000 Fuel Support Fund has been set up by the Council using Scottish Government funding which can be used flexibly to alleviate financial insecurities. nonpartisan community newsroom that relies on reader support to fuel its independent local journalism. All applicants will be offered a referral to Citizens Advice (CAB) for energy checks and expertise available from CAB as this may help to reduce domestic fuel bills. As this is a cash-limited fund, the Scheme will close on 28 February 2021. The funding will be used exclusively to support Highland households in extreme fuel poverty. The Council is encouraging households to apply for its Energy Efficient Scotland: Area Based Scheme (EES:ABS) as part of plans to ease fuel poverty in the region. Highland Councils fuel support fund is to be extended until March, councillors have agreed. Highland Council has therefore decided to use part of the Governments funding to set up a fuel support fund for those who are having difficulties paying for fuel for their homes.. Highland Council has been delivering the Scottish Governments Energy Efficiency Scotland Area Based Scheme for over nine years, which offers households the opportunity to benefit from grant funded innovative, energy efficiency measures, which have the potential to improve peoples living conditions. Households are advised to contact their energy supplier to check eligibility. Crisis Grants for fuel support are already available via the Scottish Welfare Fund for those in crisis. Households in the Highlands who are on low income and experiencing fuel insecurities as a result of COVID-19 can apply for a Fuel Support Fund from the Highland Council. In addition, Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has a specialist team of Energy Advisors who can undertake a range of energy checks which are designed to help with reducing domestic fuel bills. He said more than 3,000 eligible people could be denied the money in February, in part as a result of the councils decision not to offer a telephone number. This site uses cookies. Council tax rules mean that there are some individuals on a low income who are exempt from council tax and therefore not entitled to council tax reduction. Households in the Highland region, who are on low income and experiencing fuel insecurities as a result of COVID-19 can apply for a Fuel Support Fund from The Highland Council. The 270,000 Fuel Support Fund has been set up by the Council using Scottish Government funding which can be used flexibly to alleviate financial insecurities. If agreed, a payment of 180 would be made to around 16,440 eligible Highland households where residents are in receipt of means-tested council tax reduction. For those experiencing fuel insecurities, the scheme is available to low income households who are entitled to Council Tax Reduction (CTR) and for those without recourse to public funds. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies -. Households are continuing to provide their details by various channels including the online form on the councils website, by visiting a council service or access point and by contacting their local Citizens Advice Bureau or the councils welfare team.. We will do our best to provide you with the support you need.. He added: One of the key issues we have faced to date is a lack of sign-ups for the scheme. In addition, Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has a specialist team of Energy Advisors who can undertake a range of energy checks which are designed to help with reducing domestic fuel bills. Could you spare five minutes of your time to complete our survey, it will help us improve customer experience. Council leader Councillor Margaret Davidson said: Sadly, as a result of Covid-19, an increasing number of households in Highland are experiencing fuel insecurities. The fuel support scheme was launched in the latter part of January last year. Council leader Councillor Margaret Davidson said: Sadly, as a result of Covid-19, an increasing number of households in Highland are experiencing fuel insecurities. More than 4,500 north households benefited in the first three weeks of the scheme, launched at the end of January. 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The Councils head of revenues and business support will therefore look at these claims on an individual basis so that awards can be made to those who are eligible.. (LogOut/ The Councils Head of Revenues and Business Support will therefore look at these claims on an individual basis so that awards can be made to those who are eligible.. Low income households within Highland experiencing fuel insecurities can apply for a non-repayable 60 grant. The council will automatically make the March payments, increasing the total grant payment to 120. For those experiencing fuel insecurities, the scheme is available to low income households who are entitled to Council Tax Reduction (CTR) and for those without recourse to public funds. Aberdeen Journals Ltd 2023. Signing-up gives you the following: Single sign on for all council services (not including eplanning) Save forms for completion later. Households in the Highland who are on low income and experiencing fuel insecurities as a result of COVID-19 can apply for a Fuel Support Fund from The Highland Council. Figures also estimate that 22% of Highland households are facing extreme fuel poverty. The significant recent increases in fuel prices will place even greater pressures on an increased number of Highland residents. More than 3,000 people could miss out. Low income . Mr Reiss said: The energy expertise within Citizens Advice means that help available for individual households is identified and accessed. Draught proofing kits, carpets, and thermal curtains and door fittings have been provided to help keep homes warm. Our welfare staff have been working tirelessly to do their absolute best for our communities and will continue to do so.. The funding comes from the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations who are administering the 2 million fund on behalf of the Scottish Government. I am proud of our teams at Albyn who have made sure that families across the Highlands have been getting the support they need this winter. Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood, https://www.highland.gov.uk/fuelsupportfund. Local Authority Covid Economic Recovery (LACER) Fund, Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. All applicants will be offered a referral to Citizens Advice (CAB) for energy checks and expertise available from CAB as this may help to reduce domestic fuel bills. They can be contacted by phone on 0800 090 1004 or by e-mailwelfare.support@highland.gov.uk. Highland Park, . Households in the Highlands who are on low income and experiencing fuel insecurities as a result of COVID-19 can apply for a Fuel Support Fund from the Highland Council. Call free on 0800 090 1004 or email welfare.support@highland.gov.uk. There has been a tremendous response from across the Highlands for this important fuel support grant, put in place to help mitigate the costs of winter and the growing pressures on family incomes and finances, increasing unemployment and the uncertainty that lies ahead. It was therefore not feasible to include their number on the letters., Despite the letters stating residents must make their claim online, the council added: Customers who prefer to make contact by telephone can use one of our many telephone numbers that are well established and freely available.. Crisis Grants for fuel support are already available via the Scottish Welfare Fund for those in crisis. Funding from Scottish Government grant covers the cost of the installation, in the most part, although some works may require a household contribution to meet the shortfall between installation cost and funding available. This is where the SSE Renewables Grant can help those experiencing extreme fuel poverty. Find out more in the video here: https://vimeo.com/777370114/eda07cc990, Chair of the Sustainable Development Fund.
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