Apply for a heating assistance rebate: Heating Assistance Rebate Program

The Heating Assistance Rebate Program helps low-and modest-income Nova Scotians with the cost of home heating. Rebates are $600 for each household. You can apply 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025.

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. Eligible home heating costs

Eligible home heating costs include:

  • oil
  • electricity
  • natural gas
  • wood
  • wood pellets
  • coal
  • other heating sources

You need to pay for your own home heat. If you rent your home, the cost of heating can't be included in the rent.

Ineligible home heating costs include:

  • heating that’s included in rent
  • cost of electricity usage that’s less than 5,000 kWh per year

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 2023 net income of $55,000 or less and live alone with no kids or dependents
  • have a combined 2023 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 2025.

How to apply

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

How long it takes

It should take 8 to 10 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.

Cost

There is no cost to apply for the rebate.

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:

The Heating Assistance Rebate Program may ask you to provide a heating bill or receipt for oil, electricity, natural gas, wood, wood pellets, coal or other heating source. If the program asks you to provide a heating bill or receipt, your application can’t be processed until the information is provided.

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 248 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.