Home Heating Rebate Program Announced for 2009-10

In recognition of current usage and costs associated with home heating, the Provincial Government has made changes to the 2009-10 Home Heating Rebate Program. Regardless of the type of energy source purchased to heat the home, individuals and families with a net income of $40,000 or less will be eligible to receive a rebate of up to $250 and up to $500 for those living in coastal Labrador communities. Individuals and families with net income up to $35,000 will receive a full rebate. The rebate gradually decreases as income levels rise to $40,000, with no eligible individual or family receiving less than $100.

�The Williams Government is committed to providing programs and services that assist the residents of this province in their everyday lives,� said the Honourable Tom Marshall, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board. �Our government recognizes the importance of the Home Heating Rebate Program as it provides financial support to address the high cost of heating homes regardless of the heating source. The majority of residents heat their homes with electricity and therefore our rebate rates must reflect what is being used in homes in Newfoundland and Labrador.�

The Home Heating Rebate Program has grown substantially under the Williams Government. In 2003, approximately 14,000 families qualified for a maximum rebate of $100. The rebate was available only to families using heating oil. Over the past number of years, the Provincial Government has increased the amount of the rebate, made it available to families who heat with electricity, and enabled more families to be eligible for the rebate by increasing the income threshold. In 2008-09, approximately 73,000 rebates were received by residents availing of the program totaling about $16.5 million. For 2009-10, the estimated value of the program is $18.2 million.

As announced in Budget 2009, the Home Heating Rebate Program and the Parental Benefits Program will be administered out of Grand Falls-Windsor with a staff of 25 people.
�Establishing this office in Grand Falls-Windsor delivers on another commitment by the Williams Government to assist the central region and is a tangible example of how we have located the administration of government programs to areas outside the Northeast Avalon,� said Minister Marshall. �Our government is committed to providing programs and services that assist in improving the lives of all residents.�

Application forms for the Home Heating Rebate Program can be found at:

• The Department of Finance website � www.gov.nl.ca/fin/homeheating; 
• The Department of Finance, all Human Resources, Labour and Employment offices and Government Service Centres throughout the province;
• The Seniors� Resource Centre in St. John�s; and,
• Local newspapers.

For additional information, please contact the Department of Finance toll-free at 1-866-990-3444 or by e-mail at homeheatprogram@gov.nl.ca. 

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BACKGROUNDER
Home Heating Rebate

The Home Heating Rebate is available to residents of the province whose family net income is $40,000 or less, regardless of the primary source of heat. Family net income is the net income of the applicant plus, if applicable, the income of that applicant�s spouse or partner.

Regardless of the energy source purchased to heat the home, the maximum rebate amount is $250 and $500 for Coastal Labrador communities. Individuals and families with income between $35,000 and $40,000 will receive assistance based on a sliding scale. The minimum rebate an eligible individual or family will receive is $100.

Example of Sliding Scale

Eligible individuals or families must apply for the rebate. Applicants must provide an invoice for either electricity or heating fuel purchase, depending on which is the primary heat source, from September 2009 to April 30, 2010. Only one person per household may apply for the rebate. The deadline for submitting applications is September 30, 2010. Applicants should allow up to 10 weeks for processing.

Home Heating Rebate application forms are available through:

• The Department of Finance Web site � www.gov.nl.ca/fin/homeheating;
• The Department of Finance, all Human Resources, Labour and Employment offices and Government Service Centres throughout the province;
• Seniors� Resource Centre in St. John�s;
• Local newspapers.

Applications must be sent to:

Home Heating Rebate
Department of Finance
Tax Administration Division
P.O. Box 6000, 32 Queensway
Grand Falls-Windsor, NL
A2A 0B8

For further information on the home heating rebate, please contact the Department of Finance toll-free at 1-866-990-3444 or by e-mail at homeheatprogram@gov.nl.ca. 

2009 12 21                                                     12:25 p.m