Islands Winter Boost Fund payment for eligible residents of Skye and Raasay

Isle of Skye and Raasay Area Committee Members today (Monday 6 November 2023) were presented with a report on the Scottish Government’s Islands Winter Boost Fund announcement that will allocate £105,000 of funding for Skye and Raasay to support eligible residents with a cost of living payment specific to those living on islands. Eligible residents in the Small Isles will also benefit from this funding.

Members agreed that the Islands Winter Boost Fund be used to automatically make non-recurring cost of living payments of £127.00 per household to eligible island residents by 28 February 2024.

Skye and Raasay Area Committee Chair, Cllr John Finlayson said: “The Islands Winter Boost Fund has been developed by the Scottish Government to specifically recognise and help support the additional financial challenges faced by island communities.  The ‘cost of living’ crisis continues to be felt by us all, however the additionality of inflated costs associated with island living such as higher heating costs, delivery of goods and essential travel, currently exacerbates those challenges.

“Members welcome the funding of an automatic non-recurring payment of £127.00 that will be directed to approx. 766 eligible residents.”

Eligibility criteria:

Non-recurring cost of living payments of £127.00 per household will be made to those in receipt of means-tested council tax reduction and those with a council tax liability who are receiving specified council tax exemptions. The categories of council tax exemptions for this purpose are:

• Cared For.
• Care Leaver.
• Those under 18 years, and those who are certified as having a severe mental impairment as defined in council tax legislation.

Island Winter Boost Fund distribution criteria:

Local Authorities responsible for Islands should use this funding:

• To target island areas only.
• To target immediate need and help those who are struggling due to the cost crisis.
• And or existing schemes and/or other new support where they feel the need is greatest.

The Council’s Service Delivery Team will identify all eligible households and make BACS payments automatically, removing the need for individuals to apply and keep the administrative costs of delivering the funding to a minimum.