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Westmorland
and Furness Council have launched funding support for residents who rely on
domestic heating oil and are experiencing financial hardship due to rising
costs.
The fund
provides assistance for households after the recent sharp rise in the cost of
oil which has made it increasingly difficult for many rural residents to
afford adequate heating and hot water.
Around
18,355 properties across the council area are estimated to be affected,
particularly in off-gas communities where homes are not connected to the
mains network.
Global oil
prices have driven local heating oil costs up rapidly, with current prices
typically ranging between £1.25 and £1.40 per litre, and in some cases
reaching as high as £1.70 per litre. This represents more than a doubling of
prices compared to earlier in the month.
As most
suppliers require a minimum order of 500 litres, households are now facing
upfront costs of between £625 and £850 or more, compared to around £325 to
£400 previously. Unlike gas and electricity, heating oil is not covered by
the Ofgem energy price cap, meaning households remain exposed to sudden price
fluctuations.
Access to
the Government’s Household Support Fund is available through Westmorland and
Furness Council for those properties facing immediate financial hardship
because of the increase in heating oil prices and are at risk of losing
immediate access to heating or hot water.
Eligible
households can receive a one-off cash award of between £200 and £250,
depending on household size, with an additional £20 for each child in
full-time education up to the age of 18.
This will be
allocated on a first-come, first-served basis until it the funding pot is
fully committed.
Residents
are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as the Household
Support Fund is strictly time-limited by the government and only available
until Tuesday 31 March 2026.
From April
2026, even more support will be available for those most in need through the
Council’s Crisis Resilience Fund. Find
out more about the Household Support Fund that's supporting households heated
by oil.
ENDS
Residents are strongly encouraged to apply for Household
Support Funding as soon as possible, as funding is strictly time-limited by
the government and only available until Tuesday 31 March 2026.
From
Wednesday 1 April 2026, even more support will be available for those most in
need through the Crisis Resilience Fund.
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