More cash available to help meet energy costs

The Scottish Government’s Home Heating Support Fund, administered by the charity Advice Direct Scotland, is available to those who are rationing energy to get by – regardless of the type of meter or fuel used.Applications for the latest iteration of the fund are now open, with £9 million available.It makes up part of the £30 million Fuel Insecurity Fund, which is designed to provide financial support to households unable to cope with rising costs.Advice Direct Scotland has worked on behalf of the Scottish Government to design and deliver the Home Heating Support Fund since 2020.Since it began, more than £8 million has been administered as grants to 15,422 households struggling with the sharp rise in the cost of gas, electricity, and other fuel types. It includes over £1.15 million in fuel vouchers for vulnerable prepayment meter customers, delivered in partnership with PayPoint and the Post Office.Over £452,000 of support has been paid to customers who are reliant on unregulated fuels such as coal, oil, and LPG.Applications can be made through the website at www.homeheatingadvice.scot for those who have received money and/or energy advice from an accredited agency, via Advice Direct Scotland, or through an accredited partner organisation.Advice Direct Scotland, which runs energy advice service energyadvice.scot, said there had been a growing need for support over the past three years.The Home Heating Support Fund is open for applications until March 31, 2024, or until funds are exhausted.Scottish Government Energy Minister Gillian Martin said: “Our investment through Advice Direct Scotland will offer a critical lifeline and expansion of the Home Heating Support Fund, with its current network of more than one thousand referral partners.“This is supporting upwards of 15,000 households to date and is set to further grow across Scotland this year. By tripling the fund to £30 million, the Scottish Government has demonstrated its commitment to equality, fairness and tackling poverty.”