Get help with home heating costs

Applications for the Heating Assistance Rebate Program (HARP) open Tuesday, October 1st. HARP helps low and modest-income Nova Scotians offset their winter heating costs.

A rebate of $600 is being offered this winter.

Eligibility

To qualify for the rebate, you need to pay for your own home heating and meet one of these conditions:

  • If you live alone and earned $55,000 or less
  • If you live with kids, dependents, or other adults and your combined income is $75,000 or less
  • You can also qualify if you receive Income Assistance from the Department of Community Services or the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) or Allowance from Service Canada.

If your personal or financial situation has changed since last year, you still may qualify. Examples of changes include becoming widowed, getting divorced or legally separated, losing your job, turning 18, recently arriving in Canada, or having the custody of your children change.

Contact the Department of Service Nova Scotia and Internal Services to find out if you qualify.

How to apply

  • Apply online for the rebate.
  • Check the application for details on all required supporting documents.
  • Submit your completed application and any supporting documents.
  • Check your application status online (if you apply online).

How long does it take?

It should take 8 weeks to get your rebate. It can take longer if more information is needed or if your application hasn’t been filled in correctly. If more information is required to process your rebate, we may contact you by email.

HARP may contact you and ask you to provide a heating bill or receipt for oil, electricity, natural gas, wood, wood pellets, coal, or other heating source.

Applying online

When you apply online you need an email address. HARP emails you if it needs more information to process your rebate. The program also emails you to let you know when your rebate is about to be direct deposited.

Important: If you need to ask about a HARP application for a constituent, we will need a completed Authorization and Consent for Disclosure of Personal Information form. You can find it on the NS Legislature’s website here. Please have the person let us know if their consent is for a one-time request or for the entire program.