Eligible households in north and West Cumbria struggling with heating oil costs will be given £400 to help.
The price of kerosene – the fuel used for heating oil – has been especially affected by the recent conflict in the Middle East and has risen faster than other fuels such as petrol and gas.
The Government recently announced a targeted support package for low-income families to be distributed by local councils.
Cumberland Council said its Heating Oil Support Fund was now open for applications from eligible low‑income households who used heating oil as their primary source of heating.
Cumberland’s share of the national support package is £370,000.
Households in Cumberland experiencing financial hardship linked to heating affordability, and whose primary source of heating is oil, may be eligible for support if they meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Reduction
- Any other benefit (subject to financial assessment)
- Or the gross annual household income is less than £20,500.
Eligible households will receive a single one-off payment of £400. The authority said it was anticipated that its allocation would support around 900 households.
Mark Fryer, leader of the council, said: “We know that in rural areas such as Cumberland, heating oil is a necessity for many households, and those residents will be facing huge pressure due to the quick and sharp rise in prices.
“We welcome this targeted funding package from the Government and we have acted as quickly as possible to design a scheme that can offer meaningful support to the households most in need.”
Applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration the overall household’s financial situation, including assessing savings and disposable income.
Applicants will be asked to submit evidence along with their application, including; proof of address, household income, savings and financial circumstances, a recent heating oil quote or invoice, or evidence they cannot afford to purchase heating oil. The council can also request further reasonable evidence.
To apply go to https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/cost-living-support/crisis-and-resilience-fund/heating-oil-support
Heating Oil Support is a specific part of the wider Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) which has been made available to local authorities in England to support low-income households who encounter a financial shock, and to support activity that builds individual and community financial resilience.
If demand for Heating Oil Support exceeds the allocation, additional fuel support may be available through the broader CRF once published, the council said.
Details of Cumberland’s CRF scheme will be published in due course, it added,. The wider CRF funding covers the period of April 1 2026 to March 31 2029 inclusive and includes specified funding for housing support.
