Heating oil vouchers: £150 emergency grant for struggling families

North Northamptonshire Council has launched an emergency scheme offering a £150 heating oil prepaid card to households that rely on heating oil, are not connected to the mains gas network and are at risk of running out of fuel. The support targets low‑income and vulnerable rural households facing immediate hardship.

Applications opened on 27 April 2026 and successful applicants will receive the payment through the HUGGG voucher platform. Applicants must provide a national insurance number, two months of recent bank statements, proof that oil is the primary heating source and evidence of current tank levels — such as a recent invoice, a clear photo of the tank gauge or supplier confirmation. The council advises allowing around 30 minutes to complete the online form and offers community outreach support for those who need help.

The council emphasises that the fund is intended for emergency situations where low oil levels and the cost of the minimum delivery (typically 300–500 litres) would put health, safety or basic living conditions at risk, rather than routine purchases. Payments via the prepaid card must be made by telephone so costs can be split between the card and other payment methods. Applications will be processed in date order and within about one month, while funding will remain available until exhausted.

North Northamptonshire's programme forms part of national measures announced in March to support households hit by sharp heating oil price rises; the council says around £13.18m has been allocated locally from a wider government crisis fund. The council also notes that heating oil is not covered by Ofgem’s energy price cap, meaning off‑grid consumers have been exposed to rapid price increases and supply disruption following recent global tensions.

For markets and policy, the measure highlights exposure of off‑grid rural consumers to oil price volatility and the shortfall in consumer protection for alternative fuels. While the scheme offers immediate relief, analysts and local officials point to the need for broader interventions — from targeted energy efficiency programmes to longer‑term funding mechanisms — to reduce vulnerability among households outside the mains gas network. The council says it will contact applicants if further evidence is required and expects to prioritise the most urgent cases.