Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme
Posted on: March 30th, 2026
The following information has been issued by Advice Direct Scotland who are working with the government on the Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme.
Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme
I am writing to confirm the launch of the Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme.
The scheme aims to support households with the increased cost of oil or LPG for heating.
More information will be available on our website homeheatingadvice.scot which will go live on Tuesday March 31st.
Applications will open online on Wednesday April 1st or you can call 0800 048 7413.
Payment will be made direct to the supplier wherever possible.
Eligibility
To qualify for a payment you must meet the following criteria:
⏺️You are the bill payer in a home for which the fuel source used for heat is oil or liquid petroleum gas
⏺️The home is your only or main home
⏺️You have purchased fuel after 1 April 2026 or are planning to make an order shortly
⏺️No award has been made to the same household at the same address in the last 3 calendar months
To qualify automatically you must in be in receipt of means tested low income social security benefit:
⏺️Universal credit including Scottish Child Payment
⏺️Housing benefit
⏺️Income support
⏺️Income based Job Seekers Allowance
⏺️Income based Employment Support Allowance
⏺️Pension credit
To qualify by discretionary decision you must be in financial hardship (but not on a low income benefit) and at risk of self-rationing, plus one or more of following:
⏺️Priority need for heat or additional energy consumption due to impaired health, age (under 5 or over 75), disability, chronic or serious illness/long-term medical condition, mental health issue, recent return from hospital, end of life care.
⏺️Priority need for heat due to geography/rurality.
⏺️Other vulnerability e.g. debt, waiting for a decision on benefits or appeal, major life event, recent bereavement.
Yours,
Andrew Bartlett, Chief Executive, Advice Direct Scotland.
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