Home heating fuel rebate to assist low income families

Finance Minister Lloyd Matthews today announced that the province is offering a one-time, $100 rebate for households that use home heating fuel and where an individual in that household receives any amount of the Newfoundland and Labrador Child Benefit, Newfoundland and Labrador HST credit or the Newfoundland and Labrador Seniors� Benefit.

The minister noted that the increased cost of fuel is market driven, and is an international problem that is beyond the scope of any provincial government to fix. �Government recognizes that there are people who are adversely impacted by the high cost of home heating fuel,� said Minister Matthews. �This program is designed to provide those in greatest need with some modest relief.

�While Government is not able to equal the cost of the increase in home heating fuel, this rebate will more than offset the increased provincial HST,� said the minister. Government estimates that, in comparing today�s price for home heating fuel with the average price over the past 32 months, households will spend between $40 and $70 more on Newfoundland HST on an annualized basis.

Individuals will have to apply for the rebate and provide an invoice or statement showing that home heating fuel was used in the previous six months. Application forms will be published in the province�s daily and weekly newspapers in the coming weeks. Application forms will also be available from the Department of Finance, all provincial Human Resources and Employment offices, Government Service Centres and, in St. John�s, at the Seniors� Resource Centre. The forms may also be accessed on the provincial government web site at www.gov.nl.ca, or by calling 729-1695 in the St. John�s area, or toll free at 1-877-729-1695.

Deadline for applications is March 31, 2001. Applicants should allow at least 30 days for processing.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Home Heating Fuel Rebate is designed to provide some relief toward the cost of home heating fuel for low income seniors, families and other individuals.

It is a one time $100 rebate for households which use home heating fuel (furnace oil) as the primary source of heat. Only one person per household may apply for the rebate.

The applicant must either be currently receiving any portion of the Newfoundland and Labrador Child Benefit, have received any portion of the Newfoundland and Labrador HST Credit or the Newfoundland and Labrador Seniors� Benefit in October 2000, or have received Social Assistance in either of the months of January, February or March 2001.

Eligibility for the provincial tax credit and benefit programs is based upon net family income (the net income of an individual and that individual�s spouse) for the 1999 tax year. The following table shows the net family income level at which these programs no longer apply:

Provincial Program	Family Size	Phase Out Threshold
Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) Credit	1 adult 2 adults 2 adults, 4 children 2 adults, 5 children	$15,800 $16,600 $21,400 $22,600
Seniors� Benefit	1 or 2 seniors	$20,000
Newfoundland & Labrador Child Benefit	Any number of children	$20,921

These credits should not be confused with the GST Credit, the Canada Child Tax Benefit, or National Child Benefit Supplement, which are federal programs. The Newfoundland and Labrador HST Credit and Senior�s Benefit are paid in October and are included in the same cheque as the GST Credit. An individual may have received the GST Credit, but not the HST Credit or Senior�s Benefit. The Newfoundland and Labrador Child Benefit is paid each month along with the Canada Child Tax Benefit and National Child Benefit Supplement. If you are in doubt as to whether you qualify, you should refer to your cheque stubs, or you can enquire at the telephone number specified below. However, the data to confirm your eligibility will not be available to the provincial Department of Finance until early February, so you are requested to defer calls on your specific eligibility until that time.

Applications should be submitted to the provincial Department of Finance by March 31, 2001. An application cannot be processed without the appropriate Social Insurance Number(s). Enquiries may be made locally within the St. John�s area at 729-1695, or toll free long distance at 1-877-729-1695. Please allow at least 30 days for processing of applications.