The main objectives / expected outcomes of the grant are:

• to support vulnerable individuals and those in need;
• to help communities respond to the needs and challenges they are experiencing; and
• protect the wellbeing of Scotland.

This includes assisting Scottish citizens identified as ‘self-rationing’ energy.

The fund can help make payments towards future energy bills, depending on the customer’s situation. It can also assist towards payment outstanding debts the customer may have with their energy provider.

The fund seeks to provide financial relief to energy consumers who are experiencing significant financial hardship and strives to provide this support to households regardless of the fuel or payment method used. That is, the project is inclusive of: users of prepayment meters, district heating networks and unregulated fuels”.

In order to be eligible for funding, it must be evidenced that the applicant has received either energy and / or debt advice.

This should be supplied by trusted referral partners who are making applications on behalf of individuals.

Individuals who are making applications through the ‘Household Application’ route should evidence they have received energy and / or money advice from an accredited agency.

Due to the nature of the fund, applicants cannot be disconnected from their energy source already. If this is the case, the applicant should be redirected to a more appropriate funding source, such as the Fuel Bank Foundation.

‘Self-rationing’ of energy refers to customers deliberately limiting their energy use to spend money on other goods or services. Self-rationing affects both prepayment meter and credit meter customers.

More information on Ofgem’s statutory consultation on self-disconnection and self-rationing is available HERE. 

We preface this as an industry term and understand that this does not necessary reflect a choice or decision that has been made. 

‘Self-disconnection’ of energy refers to a situation in which the customer experiences an interruption to their gas and/or electricity because the credit on the meter has been exhausted or the credit is not easily accessible.

More information on Ofgem’s statutory consultation on self-disconnection and self-rationing is available HERE. 

For the purposes of this fund, homeheatingadvice.scot adheres to the Scottish Government’s analysis and
definition of ‘fuel poverty’.

According to this definition, a household can be considered as experiencing fuel poverty only when the following two conditions are met:

• After housing costs have been dedicated, more than 10% (20% for extreme fuel poverty) of their net income is required to pay for their reasonable fuel needs; and
• After further adjustments are made to deduct childcare costs and any benefits received for a disability or care need, their remaining income is insufficient to maintain an acceptable standard of living, defined as being at least 90% of the UK Minimum Income Standard (MIS).

In one of their latest publications concerning Rural Scotland (2021), the Scottish Government defines Rural Scotland as “settlements with a population of less than 3,000,” where a ‘settlement’ is identified as “a group of high-density postcodes whose combined population rounds to 500 people or more”.

For reference, the Scottish Government’s sixfold Urban-Rural classification (upon which the above definition is drawn) is included below:

Taking this into account, an individual/household can be classified as falling into the category of ‘Fixed payment for on-grid/rural/remote’ (mentioned in Section 2) if and only if they reside in a settlement which has: (i) less than 10,000 people, and (ii) a drive time of at least 30 minutes to a settlement of 10,000 or more.

See below for a representation of Scotland’s landscape in accordance with these definitions (accessible at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/rural-scotland-key-facts-2021/)

For the purposes of the fund, the definition ‘Off-Grid’ is an energy supply ‘not connected to or served by publicly or privately managed utilities (such as electricity, gas, or water)’.

According to the Energy Savings Trust –

“Isolated homes with no mains electricity supply either have to make do without electricity, or generate their own. For these houses, a renewable electricity generation system – using wind, water or solar power to generate power – could be the answer. A renewable heating system, such as a biomass boiler or a heat pump, can work in an off grid setting.”

A property could have higher than average bills for several reasons, including:

• reliance on electric heating
• restricted meters
• poor levels of energy efficiency

Energy Action Scotland outline  Average Scottish energy bills and Quarterly Prices (eas.org.uk). Acceptable evidence includes Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) or a relevant energy bill.

Individuals can apply to the fund through the ‘Household Application’ route, but must supply evidence that they have received energy and / or money advice from an accredited agency.

We would always recommend using one of our trusted referral partners in the first instance before applying as an individual.

Trusted referral partners for the project include local authorities and 3rd sector partners who are providing accredited energy advice and/or approved money advice.

For audit and compliance purposes, referral partners / organisations must have the ability to store evidence securely for up to six years from the date of application.

Please note – Registered referral partners should only make applications on behalf of customers and service users in a professional capacity (i.e., people using the provisions of your organisation, and in the appropriate geographical location). 

Individuals can also apply to the fund through the ‘Household Application’ route, but must supply evidence that they have received energy and / or money advice from an accredited agency.

We would always recommend using one of our trusted referral partners in the first instance before applying as an individual.

If you are already registered, but experiencing difficulty logging in, you can email support@homeheatingadvice.scot for assistance.

If your organisation referred clients over to the fund previously, then you are already registered as a trusted referral partner.

To access the new and improved portal, you should request the option to ‘Reset Password’ and follow the instructions that are sent to you by email.

You can register as a new referral partner by selecting ‘Portal Registration’ at the top of the page.

If you are already registered, but experiencing difficulty logging in, you can email support@homeheatingadvice.scot for assistance.

Proof of eligibility must be held by the referral partner and retained for a period of up to 6 years. This evidence will vary, dependant on individual circumstances.

Individuals making applications through the ‘Household Application’ route are responsible for sending evidence via WhatsApp or email (More Information).

Rural/Remote Status (see definition FAQ) – Proof of address e.g., fuel bill, council tax letter, Bank Statement

Age (those over 75) – Any official document showing a date of birth (e.g., passport, drivers license). It would also be useful if the document also showed the address.

Disability or illness – Relevant medical letter, Disability Living Allowance Letter (DLA), Employment and Support Allowance Letter (ESA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Letter.

Ill-Health – Relevant medical letter, Disability Living Allowance Letter (DLA), Employment and Support Allowance Letter (ESA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Letter

Higher than average energy bills – Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), or a relevant energy bill.

Provision of Prior Energy and/or Financial Advice – Client Reference Number, Case Notes, email or letter from accredited advice agency (This could be a screenshot of reference numbers etc).

Level of Fuel Debt – Up-to-date utility bill, Official email from energy supplier, Debt collector letter.

Please note: Photocopies, electronic documents, images and screenshots are acceptable forms of evidence. Please do not send official documentation
by mail.

Please note: referral agencies will be required to obtain, verify and store all evidence for up to six years. The fund will not require this evidence to be sent to homeheatingadvice.scot.

Evidence will only be required to be supplied when advice.scot is acting as the referral partner, or for applications made by individuals through the ‘Household Application’ route.

Are they still eating properly and able to afford / pay for priority responsibilities / debts? (e.g., rent, mortgage, council tax, travel expenses to work etc).

If the applicant is not able to make their next fuel payment without cutting back on food and other essentials, it is important that this is highlighted in their application.

Once evidence has been checked by partner organisations, or supplied by individuals to homeheatingadvice.scot and verified, payment will be made directly to the energy supplier.

For prepayment customers, vouchers will be issued that can be redeemed through PayPoint, Post Office, or PayZone, depending on the supplier.

Energy supplier account numbers (sometimes referred to as ‘customer reference numbers’) can be found on correspondence (e.g., statements, bills, letters) or on the online account with the supplier. This can differ between suppliers, but it is important that we receive the correct information to ensure payments can be made.

What does the account number look like? 

British Gas

Left hand side of front page – 12 Digits (Numerical) – Referred to as ‘Customer Number’ (Format – XX XX XX XX XX XX)

Bulb

Bulb do not use customer numbers. The customer’s full name and postcode are used as references.

EDF Energy

11 Digits (Numerical) – Referred to as ‘Account Number’ (Format XXXXXXXXXXX).

EON

12 Digits (Numerical) – Referred to as ‘Account Number’ (Format – XXXX XXXX XXXX).

Octopus

Letter ‘A’ followed by 8 numbers – Referred to as ‘Account Number’ (Format – A-########).

OVO Energy

Varied (Some 9-Digits) – Referred to as ‘Account Number’.

Scottish Power

11 Digits (Numerical). Referred to as ‘Account Number’ (Format – XXXX XXXX XXXX).

SSE

10-digit number on the first page in the top right-hand corner of the bill or statement. Referred to as ‘Account Number’ (Format – 1234567890).

We are pleased to advise that applications to the Home Heating Support Fund have been extended to the 31st of March 2023, or until funds have been exhausted.

Charitable support can be provided to people with no recourse to public funds (and therefore also those with pre-settled status).

As long as all of the other eligibility criteria are met, people who are in Scotland on visas with no recourse to public funds can apply to the Home Heating Support Fund.

Post Office – Payment of Post office vouchers will be processed weekly on a Thursday. 

PayPoint – PayPoint vouchers will be made within 72 hours. Please note that this is from the day of issue. 

Please Note – Follow up vouchers will be paid weekly.