Still time to apply for Inverness winter payment
People on low income of all ages and not just pensioners still can apply for a one-off payment of £79 from the Inverness Common Good Fund 2014/15 winter payment scheme to help them with their winter fuel bills.
City of Inverness Leader Councillor Ian Brown said: “The winter payments scheme is designed to benefit members of our community who are most in need of financial support during the winter, when extra fuel is needed.
“The scheme was launched in November last year when the weather was still unusually mild, and so far we have had a good uptake, however now that winter is well and truly with us I would encourage anyone eligible who might benefit to apply.
“We are pleased to have extended the scheme to involve people of all ages who are entitled to support with their winter fuel bills and to have increased the value of payments by 2.5% on last year.”
The winter payment is a one-off £79.
The scheme is open to residents within the Wards of Aird and Loch Ness, Inverness West, Inverness Central, Inverness Ness-side, Inverness Millburn, Culloden and Ardersier and Inverness South.
To qualify, the applicant must be (one of the following):
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aged 90 or older on or before 28 February 2015 irrespective of savings; or
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receive a Scottish Welfare Fund Crisis Grant Payment between 1 December 2014 and 28 February 2015; or
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receive pension credit Guarantee Credit; or
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have a child/children under the age of five and are in receipt of Income Support; Income Based Jobseekers Allowance or Income Based Employment and Support Allowance.
or be in receipt of one criteria from each of the following:
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Pension Credit (Savings Credit),
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Income Support,
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Income-based Jobseekers Allowance,
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Income-related Employment and Support Allowance,
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Incapacity Benefit.
and there must be a resident in the property entitled to one of the following:
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Attendance Allowance,
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Middle or high rate Disability Living Allowance (care component),
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War Widow’s or War Widower’s pension,
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Personal Independence payment (daily-living component),
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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 last 6 months or with capital in excess of £6,000. Only one application per household will be accepted.
Application forms are available from the Town House, Local Service Points (Church Street and Hilton in Inverness Ardersier and Fort Augustus).
The deadline for return of application forms is 28 February 2015.
They should be returned by post to The Highland Council, FREEPOST RRXJ-GGJX-CRYR, P.O. Box 5650, Inverness, IV3 5NX. All payments will be sent by cheque.