CRF - Summer Heating Oil Scheme

Purpose of the Scheme

The Crisis & Resilience fund “Summer Heating Oil Scheme” has been created to try and offer oil households some resilience with regard to managing their fuel bills.  Typically oil prices are lower during the warmer months and consumption is usually much lower too.  Hopefully, by assisting you to purchase heating oil now, it will put you in a better position to start saving for that winter fuel top up that you will inevitably need. The fund is limited and further help/support with heating oil can not be guaranteed. 

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for support, applicants must:

• Be aged 16 or over
• Be a resident of Ashford permanently living within Ashford Borough Council
• Be a Council Tax/Utilities payer for that property
• Be in receipt of means‑tested benefits or have a total household income of £33,000 or less per year
• Use heating oil as the main source of heating and/or hot water
• Have less than £3,000 in savings (Unless on a means tested benefit)

Evidence Requirements

Applicants will be required to provide:

• Proof of financial circumstances, such as:
  • Bank statements from the last 2 months
  • Payslips from the last 2 months
  • Evidence of benefits received
• Proof of heating oil use, such as:
  • A recent invoice or delivery receipt
  • Bank statement showing payment to a heating oil supplier
  • Tenancy agreement confirming oil‑based heating

** If you have capital over £10,000 you will not be eligible for any support from any of the Crisis & Resilience Fund schemes (even if you are in receipt of a means tested benefit) **

Award

Where eligibility and evidence requirements are met, eligible residents will receive an award of £450, designed to contribute towards the rising cost of heating oil rather than cover the full cost of supply.

Data Protection Statement

Ashford Borough Council is the data controller for any personal information collected in this application. Working in partnership with Kent County Council and through the Governments, Crisis and Resilience Fund - Summer Heating Oil Scheme, the council is seeking to support vulnerable households in its borough.

Any collected personal information will be used in order to administrate the scheme, offer any support and monitor the schemes effectiveness. Processing is being conducted relying upon the public interest legal basis. Your data may be processed by Ashford Borough Council and Kent County Council so we can provide the required service. 

Your data may also be shared with other departments within the council for the purpose of improving services, keeping records up-to-date and for the protection of the public fund. Your information will be retained for a period of 6yrs following an application. For more information about your data protection rights please see the Council’s data protection pages which can be found at www.ashford.gov.uk or contact the Data Protection Officer at, The Data Protection Officer, Ashford Borough Council, International House, Ashford, Kent, TN23 1HU