With the weather turning colder and energy costs continuing to put pressure on household budgets, Scottish agricultural charity RSABI is reminding farmers, crofters and others working in or retired from Scottish agriculture that financial support is available through its Help for Heating payments.
The grants provide £400 or more to help eligible households in the Scottish agricultural community with heating costs over the winter. RSABI is encouraging anyone who is concerned about the cost of heating their home to get in touch with the charity to find out whether they qualify for support.
An online assessment tool is available via RSABI’s website www.rsabi.org.uk/support-service/help-for-heating/ where people can check whether they are eligible, and RSABI’s case officers will support applicants through the process.
Chris McVey, Welfare Manager for RSABI, said: “Our Help for Heating payments are simple and quick to apply for via our website or by calling our freephone number on 0808 1234 555. A minimum of £400 is available to those spending more than 10% of their household income on heating costs.
“We know that rising costs are making it increasingly difficult for people across Scotland’s farming and crofting communities to keep their homes warm. Older rural properties can be particularly challenging to heat, and we want to make sure that anyone who is struggling knows that help is available.”
The RSABI team can also help applicants explore other sources of support, including help with improving the energy efficiency of their homes.
“In cases where finances have become really difficult, we can also very quickly arrange a pre-paid debit card to pay for grocery shopping. We can also arrange purchases for when household goods break down, and people are struggling to pay for replacement items.
“All support is confidential, and we would encourage anyone who is worried about their heating costs to get in touch,” Chris added.
The grants are available subject to eligibility criteria, including an assessment of disposable income and savings.
The charity is also highlighting the Scottish Government’s Winter Heating Payment, which has replaced the Cold Weather Payment in Scotland. The annual payment of £62 is intended to help people receiving qualifying low-income benefits who may have additional heating needs. Most eligible people receive it automatically, without needing to apply.
The extension of the Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme, which aims to support households struggling with the cost of heating oil and Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG), has also been welcomed. Applications to the scheme can be made via Advice Direct Scotland at homeheatingadvice.scot and if successful, a payment of £300 will be paid direct to the household’s fuel supplier.
RSABI’s support is available in addition to government assistance, and the charity encourages anyone concerned about meeting their winter heating costs to explore the options available to them.
Chris added: “As we head into winter, we would also encourage everyone in the farming community to look out for one another and keep talking about any worries they may be facing.
“We are also reminding farmers to be aware of the risk of fuel theft, particularly during the winter months, and to follow Police Scotland’s advice and take the necessary precautions to protect their fuel supplies.
“Whether someone needs help with heating costs or is worried about another aspect of their finances, our team is here to listen and help people understand what support may be available.”
RSABI’s free confidential support service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, by calling 0808 1234 555 (calls won’t show up on phone bills) or through a confidential webchat service, available on RSABI’s website www.rsabi.org.uk. The charity also offers emotional support calls to people who might be feeling low or lonely and these can be arranged by contacting their Helpline.