Apply for a heating assistance rebate: Heating Assistance Rebate Program

The Heating Assistance Rebate Program helps low-and moderate-income Nova Scotians with the cost of home heating. Rebates are $600 for each household. You can apply until 31 March 2024.

Apply to the Heating Assistance Rebate Program for help with the cost of home heating.

Rebate amount

You can receive $600 if you qualify for the Heating Assistance Rebate Program.

Seniors Care Grant

You can also apply to the Seniors Care Grant for help with the cost of home heating.

Eligibility

To qualify for the rebate, you need to pay for your own home (residential) heat and meet 1 of the following criteria:

have a 2022 net income of $55,000 or less and live alone with no kids or dependents
have a combined 2022 net household income of $75,000 or less and live with kids, dependents or other adults
receive Income Assistance from the Department of Community Services
receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) or the Allowance from Service Canada

If your personal or financial situation has changed since last year, you still may qualify. Examples of changes include becoming widowed, getting divorced or legally separated, losing your job, turning 18, recently arriving in Canada, or having the custody of your children change. Contact the Department of Service Nova Scotia to find out if you qualify.

You need to apply by 31 March 2024.

How to apply

Apply online for the rebate.
Check the application for details on all required supporting documents.
Submit your completed application and any supporting documents.
Check your application status online (if you apply online).

How long it takes

It should take 8 weeks to get your rebate. It can take longer if more information is needed or if your application hasn’t been filled in correctly. If more information is required to process your rebate, we may contact you by email.

If your income tax refund is direct deposited, your heating assistance rebate is too. If not, your rebate is mailed to you.

Before you start

Make sure you have:

all adults on the application available to sign the form
social insurance numbers and dates of birth of all adults in your home

You may need to provide additional supporting documents including:

2022 Canada Revenue Agency Notice of Assessment for you and any other adults in your home
proof of change in marital status
Canada Child Benefit Form
citizenship application
GST/HST payment information form

The Heating Assistance Rebate Program may contact you and ask you to provide a heating bill or receipt for oil, electricity, natural gas, wood, wood pellets, coal or other heating source.

Apply online

When you apply online you need an email address. The Heating Assistance Rebate Program emails you if it needs more information to process your rebate. The program also emails you to let you know when your rebate is about to be direct deposited.

Start now

Other ways to apply

You can use the Heating Assistance Rebate Application Form (PDF 276 kB) if you’re unable to apply online. Send your completed application (both sides of the application) and any supporting documents by mail or fax (application needs to be postmarked no later than 31 March 2024). If you’d like to receive a paper application by mail, contact us.