If you heat your home with oil, there’s an important date for your diary: applications for the Home Heating Oil Support Scheme open on 9th September 2026. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons confirmed the date this week, giving eligible households time to get their information together before the scheme goes live.
Here’s a recap of what the scheme is for, and everything we now know about how it will work.
What is the Home Heating Oil Support Scheme?
Around two-thirds of homes here using home heating oil as their main heating fuel and prices have been extremely volatile in 2026, driven by the Middle East conflict.
The support scheme provides a one-off £100 voucher to help eligible households cover the cost of a fill. It’s a £36.4 million package in total, made up of £17.2 million from the UK Government and a further £19.2 million from the NI Executive.
Around 340,000 households across Northern Ireland are expected to be eligible.
Who can apply
The scheme will be open to households with a combined income of £30,000 or less, or those on certain benefits including pension credit and PIP.
You may qualify if you use oil as your main heating source, are resident in Northern Ireland, and either:
- receive a qualifying benefit, including Pension Credit, Universal Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance, Armed Forces Independence Payment, or the Constant Attendance Allowance/Mobility Supplement elements of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit or the War Pension Scheme, or
- are a single person or couple (including pensioners) with a net annual household income below £30,000, after tax, National Insurance and pension contributions
Only one voucher per address will be issued. If you’re part of a couple or share a multiple-occupancy home, only one of you needs to apply.
How and when to apply
Applications open on 9th September 2026 and close on 31 March 2027. Vouchers won’t be issued automatically, so you do need to apply — via nidirect, the only official site for the scheme. It is expected that 75% or more of applications will be processed automatically.
To apply, have the following ready:
- your National Insurance number
- your own or joint income details, if you’re not on a qualifying benefit
- a contact email address or mobile number
You may also be asked for extra evidence to confirm the address is your main home, that oil is your main heating source, and to verify your income.
If you’d rather not apply online, help will be available through your local Jobs & Benefits office, the Home Heating Oil Support Scheme helpline on 0800 072 0266 (live from 9 September), Make the Call on 0800 232 1271, or Advice NI’s freephone line on 0800 915 4604.
Getting your payment
Successful applicants receive a pre-paid voucher, which needs to be activated before it can be redeemed with a participating oil supplier. Receiving the voucher won’t affect any other benefits you’re claiming.
A word on scams – nidirect is the only official channel for this scheme. You will never be asked for your bank details or to pay anything upfront to receive your voucher. If you’re contacted by anyone claiming otherwise, treat it as a scam and report it.
What you can do now
- Check the full eligibility criteria on nidirect so you know where you stand before 9 September
- Gather your National Insurance number and income details in advance, so your application isn’t held up
- Mark 9th September in your diary — applications are expected to be in demand
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