Highland Council urges people living in and around Inverness to apply for winter payments to offset heating costs
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WINTER payments are once again available to those on low incomes in and around Inverness – and people are being urged to apply.
People who qualify can apply for a one-off payment of £86 from Highland Council's City of Inverness area committee winter payments scheme.
“If you live in the Aird and Loch Ness, Inverness West, Inverness Central, Inverness Ness-side, Inverness Millburn, Culloden and Ardersier and Inverness South Wards you may be entitled to financial support during winter when extra fuel is needed to keep homes warm," said Provost and leader of Inverness Area, Councillor Helen Carmichael.
"The City of Inverness area committee winter payments scheme is designed to help people who are most in need and I urge anyone who meets the eligibility criteria to apply for and claim the one-off winter payment of £86 that they are entitled to. The scheme is aimed at anyone on low income of all ages and not just pensioners.”
Residents of the seven Inverness council wards are encouraged to apply for the one-off payment if any of the following applies to them:
- aged 90 or older on or before 28 February 2021 irrespective of savings; or
- receive a Scottish Welfare Fund Crisis Grant Payment between 1 December 2020 and 28 February 2021;
- receive Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit);
- have a child/children under the age of five and you must be in receipt of Income Support; Income Based Jobseekers Allowance; Universal Credit; or Income Based Employment and Support Allowance;
- in receipt of:
- Pension Credit (Savings Credit);
- Income Support;
- Universal Credit;
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance;
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance;
- Incapacity Benefit.
The applicant must also have someone who lives in their household who is receiving:
- Attendance Allowance;
- Middle or high rate Disability Living Allowance (care component);
- War Widow’s or War Widower’s pension;
- Personal Independence payment (daily-living component);
- Armed Forces Independence payment.
In addition, applicants must be able to confirm that there are no residents in the household in receipt of a wage either now or in the previous calendar month or with capital in excess of £6000. This does not apply if they will be aged 90 or over on or before 28 February 2021 or if they received a Scottish Welfare Fund Crisis Grant Payment between December 1 and February 28 next year. Only one application per household will be accepted.
Application forms for the Inverness Winter Payments Scheme 2020/21 are available by phoning 01349 886661 (Monday to Friday 9am-4pm); calling the council’s Welfare Support Team on 0800 090 1004; by contacting the local Citizens Advice Bureau; or by downloading the application form at www.highland.gov.uk/invernesswinterpayments.
The deadline for return of application forms is February 28.
Application forms should be returned by post to: The Highland Council, FREEPOST RRXJ-GGJX-CRYR, PO Box 5650, Inverness, IV3 5NX.
The Inverness Winter Payments Scheme is fully funded by the Inverness Common Fund and is therefore only available to eligible people within the seven specified Inverness wards.
Inverness Common Good Funding can only be used to principally benefit people living within the geographic area of the former Burgh of Inverness. However, Highland Council along with NHS Highland Public Health, Independent Food Aid Network and the Trussell Trust, have produced a new guide which brings together a wide range of relevant financial advice and support with contact details aimed at people who are struggling to make ends meet.
The "Worrying About Money?" guide covers information for people waiting for claims to be assessed as well as those already receiving benefits. Topics including advice on what to do if anyone finds themselves having a sudden loss of income or if their statutory sick pay does not cover their living expenses. There is also information on how to apply to the Scottish Welfare Fund, maximising income and benefit advice, debt advice and how to challenge a decision.
The Worrying About Money guide is available on the Highland Council website at www.highland.gov.uk/directory_record/102970/benefit_advice.
