Plans to roll-out a £100 pre-paid card to provide support to families struggling to buy home heating oil is progressing with further details about an actual launch date expected “in the coming weeks”.
Confirmation has come directly from Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, who confirmed in April that a £36.4 million support package had been secured.
Armagh I contacted the Department directly after several people got in touch with us to enquire about the current state of play.
Home heating oil prices rocketed earlier this year, essentially doubling, at a time when traditionally households might have experienced a decrease ahead of the summer months.
Stormont responded by announcing a move to help low income families, working to decide what form such a financial intervention might take.
It was in mid-April that the pre-paid card was confirmed, the £100 to be used directly in purchasing from oil suppliers.
It was estimated that over 300,000 families would benefit.
There has been little movement since that time, however, with no real updates in the interim.
One woman who contacted Armagh I asked simply: “Is this still happening?”
And she added: “Stormont hasn’t got the best track record for pushing things. It’s four months now since they told us about this but there hasn’t been anything since.
“I was holding off on getting heating oil as I thought we were going to get some help. The prices had started to come down a few weeks ago but it’s now starting to go back up again.
“Surely now that we’re halfway through the year it’s time this was sorted. People are going to want help if there’s help available with the winter approaching again.
“It’s not a massive amount but at least it’s something. If they hold on much longer and the prices continue to rise again the £100 is going to be wiped out trying to cover any more increases between now and then.”
Armagh I contacted the Department for Communities to ask what the plan was for the card and if any progress had been made in introducing it.
In response, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said: “My Department has been working at pace to implement the Home Heating Oil Support Scheme.
“This has involved developing eligibility criteria, establishing an application and eligibility verification process, and putting arrangements in place to issue prepaid cards to eligible households while ensuring appropriate safeguards against fraud and misuse of public funds.”
And the Minister added: “The Executive has agreed this support scheme and further details on the scheme’s launch are expected in the coming weeks.”
Under what has already been approved, eligible households will be able to apply for a £100 pre-paid card that can be used at heating oil suppliers.
Only one award will be made per residential address.
People may be eligible to apply if they use home heating oil and meet some pre-approved criteria.
To apply, they must be receipt of an income-related benefit, including State Pension Credit, Universal Credit and Income Related Employment and Support Allowance; or in receipt of a disability benefit, including Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance, Armed Forces Independence Payment, the Constant Attendance Allowance element of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, the Constant Attendance Allowance or Mobility Supplement element of the War Pension Scheme.
A single person or a couple – including pensioners – are also eligible to apply if they have a joint annual income that equates to less than £30,000 – net of allowable deductions.
