An Advantage Of A Big Common Good Fund - Inverness Winter Payments Already Awarded To Over 1,000 Households

30th December 2024

Applications to the Inverness Winter Payments Scheme, which is fully funded by the Inverness Common Fund, have already been awarded to 1,035 eligible households within the 7 specified Inverness Wards.

Leader of Inverness Area, Councillor Ian Brown said: "Since the Scheme was opened to applications for this winter, already £114,885 has been awarded to people who live in the eligible Wards of Aird and Loch Ness, Inverness West, Inverness Central, Inverness Ness-side, Inverness Millburn, Culloden and Ardersier and Inverness South Wards. Each household has been awarded £111 financial support during winter when extra fuel is needed to keep homes warm."

He added: “The Inverness Winter Payments Scheme is designed to help people who are most in need. I encourage anyone who meets the eligibility criteria to apply before the deadline of 28 February 2025 and claim the one-off winter payment that they are entitled to. The scheme is aimed at anyone on low income of all ages and not just pensioners.”

Apply online here  www.highland.gov.uk/invernesswinterfuel

Residents of the 7 Inverness Wards are encouraged to apply for the one-off £111 winter payment, if any of the following applies to them: 

aged 90 or older on or before 28 February 2025 irrespective of savings; or
receive a Scottish Welfare Fund Crisis Grant Payment between 1 December 2024 and 28 February 2025;
receive Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit);
have a child/children under the age of five and you must be in receipt of Income Support; Income Based Jobseekers Allowance; Universal Credit; or Income Based Employment and Support Allowance;
in receipt of:
Pension Credit (Savings Credit);

Income Support;

Universal Credit;

Income-based Jobseekers Allowance;

Income-related Employment and Support Allowance;

Incapacity Benefit. 


The applicant must also have someone who lives in their household who is receiving: 

Attendance Allowance OR Pension Age Disability Payment;
Middle or high rate Disability Living Allowance/Child Disability Payment (care component);
War Widow's or War Widower’s pension;
Personal Independence payment (daily-living component);
Adult Disability Payment (daily-living component)
Armed Forces Independence payment.
In addition, applicants must be able to confirm that there are no residents in the household in receipt of a wage either now or in the previous calendar month or with capital in excess of £6,000. This does not apply if they will be aged 90 or over on or before 28 February 2025 or if they received a Scottish Welfare Fund Crisis Grant Payment between 1 December 2024 to 28 February 2025.  Only one application per household will be accepted.

Application forms for the Inverness Winter Payments Scheme 2024/25 are available:

from Inverness, Town House, Service Point;
by phoning the Council’s Welfare Support Team on 0800 090 1004;
by contacting local Citizens Advice Bureau; or
apply online here www.highland.gov.uk/invernesswinterfuel .

The deadline for return of application forms is 28 February 2025.

Application Forms should be returned by post to: 

The Highland Council, 
FREEPOST RRXJ-GGJX-CRYR, 
PO Box 5650, 
Inverness, IV3 5NX

The Inverness Winter Payments Scheme is fully funded by the Inverness Common Fund and is therefore only available to eligible people within the 7 specified Inverness Wards.

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

Yesterday : Local Authority

Highland Council's Ambitious Capital Spending Plans Face Delays Due To Scottish Government Deficit Realities

The financial pressures facing both the Scottish Government and councils could create major risks for ambitious long-term capital programmes such as The Highland Council’s Highland Investment Plan (HIP), including the proposed £100 million redevelopment of Thurso High School into a major community campus.  However, the picture is complicated because projects like Thurso are also politically and economically important for the region.  

6/5/2026 : Local Authority

 
Highland Council’s Debt Crunch: Rising Borrowing Costs Put 20‑Year Capital Plans Under Pressure

Highland Council is heading into a tougher financial climate than at any point since the financial crash and the pressure is coming from a direction that residents rarely see: the cost of government borrowing.   Following the UK’s latest rise in borrowing costs, the price councils pay for long‑term loans has increased again.  

5/5/2026 : Local Authority

Will Governments Override Local Councils to Build Wind Farms and Battery Storage? A Look at the UK’s Energy Shift

As the energy crisis continues to reshape policy across the UK, a key question keeps coming up.  Will national governments override local councils that refuse planning permission for renewable energy projects like wind farms and battery storage sites? The short answer is this is already happening and it’s likely to increase.  

29/4/2026 : Local Authority

Caithness Committee sets garage rates for year ahead

Garage rents in Caithness are set to increase by 10% for garage rent 2026/27 and 15% for garage sites, as agreed at the recent Caithness Area Committee (Monday 27 April).   There are currently 492 garages and garage sites across Caithness, 126 of which are currently void.  

28/4/2026 : Local Authority

Short Term Let Control Area In Badenoch and Strathspey Has Slowed More Properties Joining - See Highland Wide Tougher Rules

Early indications suggest that the introduction of a Short Term Let Control Area (STLCA) for Badenoch and Strathspey has slowed the growth of secondary short-term lets across the area.   The STLCA for Ward 20, which covers Aviemore, Carrbridge, Boat of Garten, Dalwhinnie Grantown-on-Spey, Kingussie, and Newtonmore, has been in place for two years and was one of the first to be designated in Scotland.  

24/4/2026 : Local Authority

 
Highland Council signs Memorandum of Understanding with Ukrainian region

The Highland Council has confirmed the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State (Military) Administration in Ukraine.   The MoU acknowledges bonds of friendship and common aims to promote knowledge transfer, educational and trade exchanges, and encourage investment opportunities between the two regions.  

23/4/2026 : Local Authority

Accessible Voting at the 2026 Scottish Parliament Election – Support Available for Voters

As the Scottish Parliament Election approaches on Thursday 7 May 2026, we are ensuring that voting is accessible to voters.   Polling stations across the Highlands will be open from 7am to 10pm.  

23/4/2026 : Local Authority

Thurso provides feedback on £100 million investment plan

Consultation in Thurso has found strong support for investment in a Community Point of Delivery (PoD) that serves the whole town and delivers wider benefits beyond the replacement of ageing school buildings.   Local people described the proposed development of an education campus on the current Thurso High School site and surrounding area as an opportunity to create a civic asset for the whole community, bringing together education, sport, leisure, health, art and social facilities.  

23/4/2026 : Local Authority

Highland Housing Under Pressure: What the Latest Caithness Committee Report Really Tells Us

The latest Highland Council Caithness Committee Housing Management Performance Report (2025–26) offers a detailed snapshot of how social housing services are performing across the region.  On the surface, it is a routine governance update—tracking repairs, allocations, rent collection, and tenant satisfaction.  

23/4/2026 : Local Authority

Caithness Ward Discretionary Budget Approved By Councillors In The Year To 31 March 2026

Councillors approved grant funding from ward discretionary funds in the year to 31 March 2026.  13 groups in each of the two wards received funding.