Nova Scotia's $400 heating rebate opens Oct. 1 — and Atlantic Canadians may be missing up to $1,200 more

But that $400 may not be the only money on the table. Nova Scotia seniors can tap into a second, much larger grant — and its deadline arrives months sooner. Nearby provinces offer their own perks, like P.E.I.’s program that pays out up to $1,200 annually. Here’s who qualifies and what to apply for first.

Who qualifies for Nova Scotia’s $400 heating rebate?

To receive the rebate, you must pay for your own heat and meet one of the following four criteria:

• A 2025 net income of $30,000 or less if you live alone with no kids or dependents
• A combined 2025 net household income of $45,000 or less if you live with kids, dependents or other adults
• Income Assistance from the Department of Opportunities and Social Development
• The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) or the Allowance from Service Canada

(Note: Net income is calculated using line 23600 of your 2025 Notice of Assessment from the CRA).

What counts as home heat?

Oil, electric, natural gas, wood, pellets and coal all qualify.

Who is not eligible?

You can not claim the rebate if heat is included in your rent, your electricity use is under 5,000 kWh a year and heat for seasonal, rental or business properties.

How and when to apply

Applications run to Mar. 31, 2027, and payment should arrive in about eight weeks. First-time applicants, recent movers and apartment dwellers, make sure to attach a recent heating bill right from the start avoid processing delays.

Could Nova Scotia seniors get $1,150 instead of $400?

Nova Scotians who are 65 or older by Mar. 31, 2027, with household net income of $45,100 or less, can also apply for the Seniors Care Grant, worth $750 per household. Your name must be on the title or lease of your home.

This grant goes far beyond oil and gas: It covers everything from snow clearing and home repairs to phone bills, rides, and furnace tune-ups. Plus, you don’t even need to submit receipts unless requested. The catch is timing. This year’s deadline is Dec. 1, 2026 — last year, seniors had until Mar. 31.

When combined, the savings add up quickly. For instance, a senior living alone on $28,000 who pays for their own heating oil could stack both grants for $1,150 in total relief.

For severe financial pinches, Nova Scotians can also look to the HEAT Fund—backed by the province, Nova Scotia Power, and operated by The Salvation Army. The program offers up to $400 in emergency assistance for households that haven't received help in the past two years. However, intake for this year’s funding closed in May after money ran out; the next round of applications is expected to open in mid-January 2027.

What help is available in the rest of Atlantic Canada?

Prince Edward Island

The Home Heating Program, delivered by The Salvation Army in partnership with the provincial government, offers up to $1,200 per calendar year. Single Islanders with a gross income of $45,000 or less and families earning $60,000 or less can apply, provided they are not receiving P.E.I. Social Assistance. Because the funding cap resets each calendar year, eligible residents who haven't yet applied in 2026 can still submit before Dec. 31.

Newfoundland and Labrador

The province’s Home Heating Supplement pays $200 to $500 to households that buy furnace or stove oil and had a 2025 adjusted family income of $150,000 or less. You’ll need invoices for at least 250 litres, and the deadline is Jan. 15, 2027.

New Brunswick

New Brunswick prioritizes upgrades over direct payouts. Through NB Power’s Enhanced Energy Savings Program, households earning under $70,000 can get free insulation and heating improvements.

What to do now

• Pull all 2025 Notices of Assessment for every adult in your home, and check line 23600
• Nova Scotia seniors: Apply for the Seniors Care Grant before Dec. 1, then HARP
• Keep a recent heating bill showing your name, address, date and cost
• Sign up for CRA direct deposit — the rebate follows your tax refund
• Ignore any text or email asking for banking details to “release” a rebate — the province says it never asks
• In P.E.I. or N.L., check your income against the limits and save every fuel invoice

Treat these programs as layers, not a single cheque. Tackling the earliest deadlines first is the smartest play. If you’re helping an aging parent, just one afternoon of paperwork can put $1,000+ back in their pocket before winter hits.